“In that last game in San Diego, we were sitting in the locker room,” said Kyle Hagel. “It’s the last game of the road trip, last period coming up, and the boys are loose, they’re joking with each other. I think at one point [Justin Shugg] even said ‘Boys, it really feels good sitting in the locker room knowing that you’re going to win the game.’ And it was a tie game at that point.
“This team last year, we would be freaking out, like how can we possibly maybe get this to overtime and steal a point. But now that wasn’t our thought at all. We knew going out into the third period that we had this game.”
Last season’s team struggled to put pucks in the net, leading to a frustrating mindset that games were out of reach if the other team went ahead by more than one goal. The offensive success that the Checkers have experienced this season has completely turned that mindset around.
“It’s a lot of confidence,” said captain Derek Ryan. “I’ve played on losing teams and I’ve played on winning teams and it’s crazy how much different that locker room feeling is. On a losing team you’re worried, you have anxiety, you don’t know what’s going to happen, whereas when you’re on a winning team you have confidence. You know if you continue to play your game and play the way the team can, then you’re going to go out there and have a good chance of being successful.”
This stretch has also hammered home something that head coach Mark Morris has preached since day one.
“I’m sure you’ve heard guys say it - winning is fun,” said Ryan. “It’s a lot more fun when you’re getting points and it brings the team a lot closer together, especially on a six-game road trip to California against three really good teams. It’s a good bonding experience and it brings teams together for sure.”
There have been a variety of factors that have led to the Checkers’ run up the standings - a surging offense, depth scoring stepping up, exceptional play in net by Daniel Altshuller - but on top of all that is the prevailing sentiment of confidence in the locker room. Their play so far this season has shown that they can compete with any other team in the league, and as they continue to rack up the points, that confidence in each other will continue to grow.
“I feel like we’ve got some swagger,” said Hagel.
Some other news and notes from this week:
CHECKERS GET PHYSICAL
“I feel like the growth really started when they came here,” said Hagel. “I think even the series we had with them here, we talked about it afterwards and, sure they won both games, but we did a good job of standing up to them that weekend too. They wanted to make it into a street fight and our guys stiffened right up and we showed them that we weren’t going to get pushed around. I feel like we brought that same attitude to the West Coast.”
Ontario is widely known as one of the most physical teams in the AHL and ranks in the top three in penalty minutes per game. That physical style of play is something that Morris, who spent eight seasons behind the bench for the Kings’ affiliate, has been trying to instill in his team from the start of the season. As the wins have started to pile up, that physical style has manifested itself in the team’s identity.
“I think it’s a different mindset that we have now,” said Morris. “Team toughness is something that we’ve talked about and it’s something that our guys have experienced now. That trepidation or insecurity you might feel goes away when everyone is there leaning on each other. I think we’ve made some strides in that area.”
In that second series with Ontario, the Checkers were not going to be pushed around by the physically imposing Reign, never backing down from as the home squad brought everything they had.
“We stood up to them physically in every confrontation that presented itself,” said Hagel. “We played well and dug in and were able to win.”
Those contests even saw a few players who don’t normally fight drop the gloves, something that sparked the bench.
“[Patrick Brown]’s fight with [Curt] Gogol was unbelievable,” said Hagel of a scrap between the two on Jan. 2. “We had just scored to go up 2-0 and Gogol, who has been around and fights a lot, goes and asks Brownie. So Brownie does him a favor, you know he doesn’t have to fight when we just went up, but he went right after him and had a great fight. I feel like that always fires up physical players when you see a skill guy drop the gloves. It’s exciting. It’s showing that you care. You don’t have to beat the wheels off a guy, you don’t have to do it every game, but if you do it once a year it shows your teammates how badly you want to win. It’s fun.”
While those type of slugfests probably aren’t the most ideal situations for the Checkers’ style of play, their ability to engage in a physical game makes them a more well-rounded team. As they continue to prepare for the grind of the second half of the season and hopefully beyond, these types of games will become more frequent, and the Checkers will feel just as comfortable playing in them.
“Those were man’s games,” said Hagel. “Those are real tough, playoff atmosphere, old school games. They’ve got a gritty, hard-nosed coach that gets them to play an old-fashioned way, and we were fine with it.”
ALL STARS
“It’s a huge honor,” said Ryan. “There are some really great players that have played in that game, and it’s one of the best leagues in the world so getting selected to the All-Star team is a huge honor. It means a lot to me and my family and I’m really excited to play.”
Ryan is enjoying a lot of success in his first season as a pro in North America, leading the Checkers in scoring while ranking sixth in the AHL. After spending the entirety of his career up to this point in Europe, the 29-year-old is happy to get the nod, as it also provides a little break during a grueling season.
“The European leagues, they don’t have an All-Star game or All-Star teams, so it’s nice to have,” said Ryan. “It’s nice and necessary because the season is long and if you can break it up a little bit it makes it easier to stay focused and continue to work hard day in and day out.”
For Carrick, being selected in just his second year as a pro is huge. The young blue liner has taken even more step this season after setting team records as a rookie last year, becoming a premier offensive force on the blue line.
“I think he’s earned it 100 percent,” said Ryan. “He’s shown that he can be a productive defenseman in this league with a lethal shot. As a young guy, I think it means a lot for him and his career to be exposed to a lot of people. It’s good for his resume and a huge honor for him as well.”
Ryan and Carrick have been two of the biggest cornerstones for the Checkers this season and have been integral parts of the team’s overall success.
“It’s well deserved,” said Morris. “Those guys have played very well for us. Their body of work has been impressive. When you look at the minutes they play against some of the top talent in the league, you like to see those guys rewarded for what they’re doing. It’s quite an honor for them to be recognized like that. I’m real happy for them.”
KARLSSON GETTING LOOKS
“He’s a great kid,” said Morris. “He’s highly intelligent and has a great hockey IQ. I think he’s getting more and more confident every time he gets out on the ice and he’s starting to make some plays. He’s a guy that has his head and his heart in the right place.”
Morris has shown more confidence in the young Swede during this most recent stretch of games, inserting him into other areas of the lineup, and the more confidence that Morris shows in him, the more Karlsson’s comfort within the systems grows.
“We’ve had him on the second power-play unit and he distributes the puck really well,” said Morris.
“He talks a lot to us and helps us on the way,” said Karlsson of Morris. “You get more comfortable when he puts you on the power play and we got a goal in San Diego.”
Listed at 170 pounds, Karlsson’s small frame could be his biggest obstacle to taking another step in his progression as a player, but the forward is certainly not afraid on the ice.
“He’s not timid at all,” said Morris. “He goes to the right areas and he’s a quick thinker. He puts the puck where it needs to go at the right time. He’s getting some great chances and I think once he scores a few goals, you’ll see his confidence get a boost.”
“I’ve never been a big guy, so I use my smarts and my vision and my speed to not get in trouble in corners,” said Karlsson. “But I’m not afraid to go into tough situations either.”
Despite being a rookie in the AHL, Karlsson has plenty of experience playing as a pro against grown men, having spent two seasons in the top Swedish league before coming to Charlotte. As he continues to grow and adjust to the North American game, Karlsson has shown that he could have what it takes to be a difference maker at this level.
“I think that Mother Nature has to take its course and he’ll fill out and get stronger, but he’s a heck of a kid,” said Morris. “When you look to project where he’s going to be, he has all the right tools to have a great career.”
“I’m just going to keep working out in the gym and on the ice and everything’s going to turn out pretty good,” said Karlsson.
