The Charlotte Checkers achieved an impressive victory by defeating the Hershey Bears, the top team in the league, with a score of 3-1 during their final game of a challenging three-in-three weekend.
The game commenced with a strong start for the Checkers, as Mackie Samoskevich scored a goal just 71 seconds into play, followed by Patrick Giles extending their lead less than two minutes later. Despite the Bears managing to narrow Charlotte’s lead before the end of the first period, the game remained deadlocked until the third period, with both teams engaging in a physical battle.
In the final frame, Samoskevich once again proved instrumental for the Checkers, securing his second goal of the game and providing his team with a comfortable margin. Throughout the game, the Checkers thwarted the high-flying Bears, limiting the defending champions to just 14 shots in regulation. Goalkeeper Spencer Knight also delivered an outstanding performance, recovering from an early goal against to clinch the victory for his team.
In addition, this game marked Gerry Mayhew’s 400th professional game, and it was Samoskevich’s first multi-goal game as a professional player. Knight has also been on a winning streak, with three victories in his last four starts and conceding only a single goal in his last two outings. The Checkers have consistently outshot their opponents in recent games and have displayed strong defensive prowess, allowing the fewest shots this season in the game against Hershey.
The Checkers have unequivocally demonstrated themselves as a team worth monitoring, and their recent performance has been remarkably impressive as they continue to leave their mark on the league.