Farm Report: Checkers still looking for turnaround, Swamp Rabbits split

Checkers Roundup

The Checkers lost the pair of games they played against the Providence Bruins this weekend and have now lost three of their last four games. The Checkers continued their slide down the standings and now sit last in the Atlantic Division with just 19 points in 21 games. Charlotte still sits 30th in goals for but continues their hold on the league’s best penalty kill.

Charlotte dropped a 4-1 decision to Providence on Saturday in the annual Teddy Bear Toss game, their first game post-Thanksgiving. The two teams split goals in the first period with former Checker Brendan Woods getting on the board for Providence but Hunter Shinkaruk tied the game up with less than two minutes remaining in the period, triggering the cascade of stuffed animals down to the ice. The Checkers collected an estimated 2,000 stuffed animals, according to the team, that will be donated to nonprofits in the Charlotte area to support local children during the holidays.

Providence continued their moment, however, after Woods scored again in the second. The Bruins continued their hold and didn’t let up, scoring two more in the third. Anton Forsberg made 25 saves on 29 shots.

In the second game of the weekend, the same effort yielded just about the same result for the Checkers as they dropped a 4-0 decision to Providence. Dan Vladar was perfect for the Bruins, stopping all 36 Charlotte shots he faced. Woods continued his hold on the Checkers with another goal on the weekend, this time in the second period to give the Bruins the lead. The Bruins pulled together another three goals and Charlotte had no answer for Vladar.

Swamp Rabbits Roundup

The Greenville Swamp Rabbits split their pair of games for the week. The Swamp Rabbits struggled against the Jacksonville Icemen and fell 4-2. Despite a goal from Mason Baptista to pull the Swamp Rabbits within one, Jacksonville held on with a late empty net goal.

In the second game of the week, Greenville beat the Atlanta Gladiators 3-2. Jeremy Helvig continued his strong play of late with a 29-save second period. He made 56 saves in the performance, the most he has made in any game in his professional career.

The Swamp Rabbits sit third in the ECHL’s South Division with a record of 11-9-1 for 23 points. They are five points behind first place South Carolina, who holds five games in hand on the Rabbits. Greenville will take on the Norfolk Admirals in a pair of games this weekend.