Carolina Hurricanes: Checkin’ in With the Checkers – AHL All Stars Trevor Carrick, Derek Ryan and Chubby
Carolina Hurricanes prospects Trevor Carrick and Derek Ryan helped the Central Division win the 2016 AHL All Star Classic this week. Even bigger news – Chubby won the Mascot Musical Chairs Championship.
The Checkers played three games before taking a break for the AHL All Star Classic this past week. The time off came as a blessing for the team, as they stumbled into Friday.
More from Cardiac Cane – Canes should be buyers at the trade deadline
Rockford IceHogs – 3 Checkers – 1
Before this tilt the Checkers were one of the best teams on the road, having not lost a game away from home since Thanksgiving. Taking on the first place IceHogs, they exchanged goals in the first to head to the second tied at one, After the IceHogs took the lead late in the second, the Checkers just couldn’t solve Rockford’s goalie, Michael Leighton, for the rest of the game. And yes, that is the 2008-10 Hurricanes back-up, Michael Leighton.
Iowa Wild – 5 Checkers – 4 (OT)
Two nights later, facing an Iowa Wild team that they’ve dominated over the years, the Checkers were hoping to get back on track. It looked good for the Checkers early in the second when they were up 3-1, but that lead was erased before the period ended. With a minute and a half remaining in regulation the Checkers scored, seemingly for the win. Wild forward Cristoph Bertschy, though, had other ideas, and sent the game to overtime before the horn blew. Iowa finished them off in the extra period..
Iowa – 5 Checkers – 1
It went even worse for the good guys in the rematch the next day. The first period started well, with the teams trading early goals. Then the floodgates opened. The Wild expolded for four unanswered goals to blow out the Checkers. Both Checkers goalies saw action, as starter Drew MacIntyre was pulled after three goals in the first, and back-up Daniel Altshuller gave up two of his own. MacIntyre was called back into action though, after Alshuller was asked to leave the game after skating down the ice to drop the gloves with Iowa goalie Steven Michalek.
Checkers at the 2016 AHL All Star Classic – Carrick, Ryan & Chubby!
The Skills competition for the AHL All Stars took place Saturday Night in Columbus, Ohio. The Checkers’ Trevor Carrick (D) and Derek Ryan (F) were a part of the festivities, with Carrick finishing 2nd in the fastest skater race, and Ryan clocking a 97.3 mph in the hardest shot contest.
The All Star game on Sunday was even better for our boys. Their Central Division team won the 3-on-3 tournament, beating the Atlantic team 4-0 with the help of a hat-trick from Rockford’s Pat Cannone, and a shutout performance from Michael Leighton.
Derek Ryan contributed in the Championship game with this beautiful goal.
In much bigger news from Columbus, the Checkers world famous mascot, Chubby, was victorious in the much-anticipated Mascot Musical Chairs Championship! Watch his final moves.
Unfortunately, as you saw in that video, there was a Mascot Melee in which Tux, the Wilkes-Barre Scranton mascot, interfered with Chubby. According to Checkers team sources, Chubby is day-to-day with an upper body injury, and there will be a disciplinary hearing for Tux in the next few days. Stay tuned.
Next: Justin Faulk Reflects on the 2016 NHL All Star Weekend
The road to the 2016 Calder Cup continues for the Checkers on Friday, with a home game against the Lake Erie Otters. If you want to cheer them on in person you can get tickets on their website here.
Go Checkers! Go Canes!