All Things Charlotte Checkers II: The Wrath of Boychuk

[HisIceness]

Simply put it's easier for the Checkers to fly to the California and Texas cities, along with the cities within the Central division because of Charlotte-Douglas Airport being a hub for US Air. Hence why Charlotte continues to stay in the West.

It would be awesome if Atlanta could get a AHL team, would be an easy trip.

 

[garnetpalmetto]

Simply put it's easier for the Checkers to fly to the California and Texas cities, along with the cities within the Central division because of Charlotte-Douglas Airport being a hub for US Air. Hence why Charlotte continues to stay in the West.

It would be awesome if Atlanta could get a AHL team, would be an easy trip.

This makes me miss the old ECHL East Division - teams in Columbia, Greenville, Florence, Charleston, Augusta, and Charlotte. Talk about easy road trips.

 

[WreckingCrew]

This makes me miss the old ECHL East Division - teams in Columbia, Greenville, Florence, Charleston, Augusta, and Charlotte. Talk about easy road trips.

I remember some great road trips against Richmond, Roanoke, and Greensboro before that! Bringing in the West coast team created about a decade of disaster in the East bc the # of teams was greatly reduced, which increased travel distance and expense, and crashed a lot of teams financially to create a revolving door of teams. Weren't they down to almost 20 teams a few years ago before absorbing the CHL?

 

[garnetpalmetto]

I remember some great road trips against Richmond, Roanoke, and Greensboro before that! Bringing in the West coast team created about a decade of disaster in the East bc the # of teams was greatly reduced, which increased travel distance and expense, and crashed a lot of teams financially to create a revolving door of teams. Weren't they down to almost 20 teams a few years ago before absorbing the CHL?

It was several factors aside from absorbing the WCHL teams, probably. In 2005-06, for instance, the South and East divisions had to be combined due to losing Mississippi, Texas, and Louisiana to Hurricane Katrina. Suddenly that means the East Division teams had to travel to Gwinnett, Pensacola, and Florida. Simultaneously some teams that needed new arenas or better arenas to be viable (Pee Dee and Columbia spring to mind) never got those, so that pretty much spelled their deaths. In terms of size though, here's how the League's changed - it actually got down to a 19-team league the season the IHL (the old UHL) dissolved. At that point there some of the teams (Kalamazoo, for instance) had already jumped ship to the ECHL, while the majority of the league was absorbed by the CHL.

Season|Teams|Notes
1988-89|5|Inaugural season
1989-90|8|
1990-91|11|
1991-92|15|
1992-93|15|
1993-94|19|
1994-95|18|
1995-96|21|
1996-97|23|
1997-98|25|
1998-99|27|
1999-00|28|
2000-01|25|
2001-02|29|
2002-03|27|
2003-04|31|WCHL merger
2004-05|28|
2005-06|25|
2006-07|25|
2007-08|25|
2008-09|21|
2009-10|20|
2010-11|19|UHL/IHL dissolution
2011-12|20|
2012-13|23|
2013-14|21|
2014-15|28|CHL merger
2015-16|28|AHL relocations/realignment

 

[HisIceness]

This makes me miss the old ECHL East Division - teams in Columbia, Greenville, Florence, Charleston, Augusta, and Charlotte. Talk about easy road trips.

I would love for Columbia, Greensboro, and Augusta to get teams again. It's a shame the Inferno never got their building built, though it probably would have been easier to keep the team in place had the powers that be at USC allowed them to use the Colonial Life Arena. Myrtle Beach I remember was supposed to get the team from Florence in 2005 originally, I think they were going to be called the Thunderboltz.

Kind of surprised Greensboro hasn't had a team since 2004. I guess after the Hurricanes left, most residents gave up on Hockey altogether considering the Generals were a flop. In theory they could be a good place for our ECHL affiliate to complete the NC trifecta should the Everblades move, or want to be someone else's team.

Not sure what the status is with Augusta, but what I've heard the James Brown Arena has major problems with keeping the ice cool, and probably is better off building a new arena anyways.

At least Charleston and Greenville have teams today.

 

[tarheelhockey]

Former ECHL Checker Eric Boulton has extended his NHL career for another year.

The only other ECHL Checker alum still playing in the NHL is Dan Girardi.

 

[RyanCarpenter28]

Who gets sent to the Echl.

 

[Rhambo6]

Former ECHL Checker Eric Boulton has extended his NHL career for another year.

The only other ECHL Checker alum still playing in the NHL is Dan Girardi.

still surprised the Rangers haven't been ably to deal him yet. Wouldn't expect him to be in NY much longer.

 

[Boom Boom Apathy]

still surprised the Rangers haven't been ably to deal him yet. Wouldn't expect him to be in NY much longer.

I don't think it's much of a surprise that he hasn't been dealt.

1) He has a NMC, so he'd have to agree to waive it.

2) He's 32 years old, was terrible last year, and has a $5.5M Cap hit ($4M-$6M actual salary) for the next 4 seasons.

3) Since NMC's have to be protected in the upcoming expansion draft, any team taking him on would then have to protect him. Contrary to popular HF belief, there is nothing in the CBA that says a team taking a player on that has a NMC has an option to honor said clause. The only thing the CBA says, is the if a team trades for a player BEFORE a NMC is in effect, they don't have to honor it.

 

[Unsustainable]

Ulfie will be the coach for the Canes at Traverse.

 

[RyanCarpenter28]

What's the lineup going to look like this year.

 

[NotOpie]

What's the lineup going to look like this year.

http://hfboards.mandatory.com/showthread.php?t=2118755

 

[HisIceness]

http://www.gocheckers.com/schedule

Schedule is out for those interested.

 

[Unsustainable]

Checkers current roster:
G - Michael Leighton, Alex Nedeljkovic
D - Haydn Fleury, K Lowe, T Carrick, Matt Tennyson, Josh Wesley, D Robertson, J Chelios, Kevin Raine (AHL)
F - B McGinn, Mitchell Heard (AHL), D Ryan, Clark Bishop, Levko Koper (AHL), Brant Harris (AHL tryout), K Hagel, B Woods, A Poturalski, P Brown, Valentin Zykov, Lucas Wallmark, P Dwyer, Connor Brickley.

 

[HisIceness]

Rip in peace AHL superstar Zach Boychuk career with Checkers.

 

[DaveG]

Levko Koper, now there's a name I haven't heard in a long time.

 

[CandyCanes]

Not a good start for Nedeljkovic in the AHL. Gave up 4 goals in the 1st and then got yanked. Though it looks like the team didn't help him that much, he faced 17 shots on goal in the 1st.

 

[Cardiac Jerks]

At least they get disappointing their fans out of the way early.

 

[GoldiFox]

Not a good start for Nedeljkovic in the AHL. Gave up 4 goals in the 1st and then got yanked. Though it looks like the team didn't help him that much, he faced 17 shots on goal in the 1st.

He let in 3 goals in the final 1 minute and 20 seconds of the period (including one at 19:59). Sounds like a serious flustering.

 

[the halleJOKEL]

back to the drawing board then

whats arturs irbe up to?

 

[HisIceness]

So, time for new thread?

 

[Anton Dubinchuk]

So, time for new thread?

almost

someone make more posts

 

[tarheelhockey]

almost

someone make more posts

I refuse.

 

[Wolfpuck]

I remember we used to have a Checkers in Raleigh. I really liked their fries.

 

[HisIceness]

I remember we used to have a Checkers in Raleigh. I really liked their fries.

Never eaten there, it's similar to Steak n Shake right?