CHARLESTON, S.C- The Checkers had a lead going into the third period but relinquished their advantage and lost to the South Carolina Stingrays by a score of 5-4.
The Checkers got the scoring started in the first period when forward Michel Leveille tipped a Kenny Smith point shot past Stingrays netminder Jeremy Duchesne at 4:19 giving his team a 1-0 lead. The Stingrays struck back on a point shot of their own when defenseman Viktor Dovgan blasted a shot through a screen that flew past Checkers goalie Jeff Jakaitis at 14:01 locking the game at 1-1. Checkers centerman Brad Ralph broke the tie when he wristed a shot from the top of the right faceoff circle past Duchesne at 17:14.
The Checkers extended their lead in the second period when forward Ryan Hillier took a nice feed by Ryan Murphy and scored on his rebound shot through the legs of Duchesne at 2:39 giving Charlotte a 3-1 lead. The Stingrays would storm back and tie the contest on back-to-back goals. The first was scored by the Captain Brad Farynuk during a two-man advantage when he rifled the shot over the shoulder of Jakaitis at 7:23. South Carolina forward Travis Morin registered the tying goal when his shot in the slot through traffic found its way behind Jakaitis at 12:11. With the game tied at 3-3, the Checkers once again retrieved a lead after Jeff Miles found a loose puck in the crease after an Ethan Graham point shot was stopped by the Stingrays goalie at 14:22. The period would end with the Checkers holding a 4-3 advantage.
During the third period, the Stingrays mounted a comeback that was insurmountable for the Checkers. First, they tied the contest when Michael Dubuc breakaway shot beat Jakaitis low on the blocker-side at 7:34. This tied the game at 4-4 but once the Stingrays took their first lead of the contest after a Spencer Carbery goal at 9:54, they never looked back and the Checkers fell by a score of 5-4.
The Checkers are in their 16th season of play as a member of the ECHL. The next home game will take place Feb. 5th against the Gwinnett Gladiators at 7 p.m. In the team’s 15-year history, the Checkers have made the playoffs 11 times including four consecutive playoff appearances to date. The Checkers are in their fourth season of play at Time Warner Cable Arena. Season tickets are on sale now with full-season packages starting at just $396. For season ticket information, please call 704-342-4-ICE or visit www.gocheckers.com.