[PhantomCat]

Just got back from an awesome victory. The Charlotte Checkers blew away Toledo Walleye, 5 to 1.
The crowd went wild over the brutal fight during the second period, and again at the quick bashing during third period.

There are still more hockey games left in the season. Check out http://www.timewarnercablearena.com and click on the Checkers logo for more details.

If your going, dress warmly, and please reconsider before taking elementary kids along. I have seen some pretty bad fights on the ice during games, and the fans do yell out obscenities over bad calls and plays. Believe me, there's not too many nuns in the stands. Hockey is not your typical family entertainment outing, unless you're raising Roman gladiators.

Now, are you ready for some Football? Who Dat?

[Jonathan]

Now you've got a topic I'm interested in.

By the fan, for hockey fans in Charlotte, it's a big step up next year. They haven't announced it yet, but the Checkers' owner will be purchasing the Albany River Rats and moving them to Charlotte for next season. I am assuming they will become the Charlotte Checkers and the current ECHL team will move or fold. They are an AHL team (one step up from the ECHL and one step below the NHL), and the affiliate of the Hurricanes, so the Canes' prospects will be playing in Charlotte.

I know I'll certainly be attending a lot more Checkers games starting next year when I am in the Charlotte area.

[jordN1414]

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/sports/nhl/story/1196577.html

Heres the story I saw.

[PhantomCat]

Now you've got a topic I'm interested in.
By the fan, for hockey fans in Charlotte, it's a big step up next year. They haven't announced it yet, but the Checkers' owner will be purchasing the Albany River Rats and moving them to Charlotte for next season. I am assuming they will become the Charlotte Checkers and the current ECHL team will move or fold. They are an AHL team (one step up from the ECHL and one step below the NHL), and the affiliate of the Hurricanes, so the Canes' prospects will be playing in Charlotte.

You're so right Jonathan. I've attended several Checkers games this season and I've never heard that announcement. It's time we move to the top. I so glad.

Another fan and I were talking during an intermission one night and he told me about the different leagues and that the Checkers were at the bottom one. He refereed to it as the Charlotte Cobras football team (whatever happened to them?). He also told me about the black guy with the Checkers last season who loved to fight. He described the guy as "kind of crazy" because he mainly wanted to fight. One night he hit a man with his hockey stick, which, as we know, is a great "No, No" no matter which league they're in, which lead to him being fired from the team. That other guy hit, had blood all over him. Did you catch that game last season? Does any of that sound failure to you or was he feeding me a line of crap, just to be talking to someone at the game?

[Jonathan]

Sounds like something that could have happened. There are some rough characters in the minor leagues, and a lot of teams especially in the lower leagues really even encourage the rougher aspects of the game because with the lower skill levels in the minors, fighting and that sort of thing can draw in fans.

I have only been to one Checkers game since they moved to Time Warner, but it was a good time. It does seem really weird though seeing a minor league game in such an upscale venue. I will be going to a lot more games in the future if the AHL affiliation goes through. The Canes are my favorite sports team; I am a season ticket holder here in Raleigh, and keep close tabs on how all the prospects are doing up in Albany. Might even make my way to a game up there in a couple of months. It would be real nice to have them down in Charlotte, although I feel sorry for the fans in Albany because no one deserves to lose their team.

EDIT: Good timing here. The Checkers have called a news conference for Wednesday, and it is anticipated that they will announce the move during it.

[PhantomCat]

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/sports/nhl/story/1196577.html

Heres the story I saw.

Seems like everyone knows about this but me.
Thanks...

[PhantomCat]

Now you've got a topic I'm interested in.

By the fan, for hockey fans in Charlotte, it's a big step up next year. They haven't announced it yet, but the Checkers' owner will be purchasing the Albany River Rats and moving them to Charlotte for next season. I am assuming they will become the Charlotte Checkers and the current ECHL team will move or fold. They are an AHL team (one step up from the ECHL and one step below the NHL), and the affiliate of the Hurricanes, so the Canes' prospects will be playing in Charlotte.

I know I'll certainly be attending a lot more Checkers games starting next year when I am in the Charlotte area.

On behalf of our future AHL hockey team and me, welcome to Charlotte.

Now, if they will only decide the location of that new baseball field...

[jordN1414]

Its official River Rats will now be the Checkers.

[PhantomCat]

Its official River Rats will now be the Checkers.

Thanks for the update. That is too awesome! Great things are in store for Charlotte.

[Davidtmp]

Hey Jonathan, since you know this stuff a heck of a lot more than me....What is the IHL to the NHL? Is the equal to the AHL, like the Western Conference to the AHL being the Eastern Conference?
I like the idea of being able to see guys that one day might be on the NHL clubs. I'll be inclined to check them out next season. Good move for hockey in Charlotte and NC.

[Jonathan]

The IHL is one step below the AHL. Only two IHL teams to my knowledge have affiliations with AHL teams. The IHL is sort of on the same level as the ECHL that the Checkers are currently in, but I would say the ECHL is a bit more prestigious.

[Davidtmp]

^^Thanks for that explanation. Good news for hockey in this area for sure.

[PhantomCat]

The IHL is one step below the AHL. Only two IHL teams to my knowledge have affiliations with AHL teams. The IHL is sort of on the same level as the ECHL that the Checkers are currently in, but I would say the ECHL is a bit more prestigious.

Cool. Now what's happening with AOL?

[PhantomCat]

We still have one more good month (March) for hockey before our team is up-graded for the 2011 season. GO CHECKERS!