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17-615: The current organization is the third team by this name; it succeeded a Checkers franchise that played in the ECHL from 1993 until the end of the 2009–10 ECHL season . The original Checkers team played in the city from 1956 to 1977, originally in the Eastern Hockey League and then in the Southern Hockey League . The franchise is one of six teams to replace and share a name with a predecessor franchise from

34-639: A 2–0 loss to the Rockford IceHogs . In late 2014, the Checkers announced they would return in the following season to the Bojangles' Coliseum , the home of the previous Checkers teams until 2005. As Kahn detailed, the move would reconnect with said team legacy. Additionally, having a dedicated arena allowed for "greater control over every aspect of our business, including scheduling, amenities, game presentation and sponsorship inventory." To make sure

51-751: A lower-tier league; the others are the Bakersfield Condors , Colorado Eagles , Ontario Reign , Rockford IceHogs , and San Diego Gulls . . The franchise was originally based in Troy, New York , as the Capital District Islanders from 1990 to 1993. They then became the Albany River Rats from 1993 to 2010, until the River Rats were sold to MAK Hockey, LLC, led by Charlotte beer distributor Michael Kahn , owner of

68-652: The Checkers starting with the 2010–11 season . As a result of this, Kahn returned the Checkers ECHL franchise to the ECHL at the end of the 2009–10 ECHL season , ending the franchise's ECHL history. Records as of 2009–10 season. Notes: There were no conferences in the ECHL prior to the 1997–98 season. Games tied at end of regulation went directly to shootout from 1995–2000 Phil Berger Chicago Wolves Too Many Requests If you report this error to

85-596: The ECHL Checkers . The new ownership relocated the team to Charlotte for the 2010–11 season, renaming the franchise the "Charlotte Checkers", and relinquished the ECHL franchise to the league. The Checkers are the second North Carolina–based team to play at the highest level of minor-league hockey, following the Carolina Monarchs , who played in Greensboro from 1995 to 1997. The Checkers inherited

102-698: The Macgregor Kilpatrick Trophy for the league's best regular season record. It was the first time a Charlotte hockey team had broken the 100-point barrier since the SHL Checkers earned 101 points in 1974–75. They defeated the defending champion Toronto Marlies in the Eastern Conference finals to advance to their first Calder Cup final. They defeated the Chicago Wolves in five games to win their first AHL title, and

119-692: The Checkers and the Lehigh Valley Phantoms played the longest game in the history of the American Hockey League. A 1–1 tie was broken by a Phantoms' goal at 6:48 of the fifth overtime period, more than six hours after the game began. The Checkers made 95 shots against Lehigh Valley goalie Alex Lyon . The 2018–19 season was the Checkers' best season as an AHL team to date and one of the best in Charlotte's hockey history. They won their first division title with 110 points and

136-639: The Checkers. Updated November 25, 2024. Charlotte Checkers (1993%E2%80%932010) The Charlotte Checkers were an American ice hockey team in Charlotte, North Carolina , and played in the ECHL (formerly the East Coast Hockey League). Following a 17-year break from ice hockey, the Checkers returned in 1993 and made the playoffs ten times, including winning the ECHL Championship in 1996. The Checkers franchise

153-646: The Coliseum was up to AHL standards, the Charlotte City Council arranged to provide $ 16 million to fund renovations. While Time Warner Cable Arena had been one of the largest arenas in the AHL, it left much to be desired as a hockey venue. It seated 14,100 people, but over 4,000 seats had obstructed views. In Charlotte on May 9 and 10, 2018, in game four of the second round of the Calder Cup playoffs,

170-623: The River Rats' affiliation with the Carolina Hurricanes , in keeping with a recent trend to have NHL teams' top affiliates geographically close to their parent teams in order to ease movement between the AHL and the NHL. The AHL Checkers' first home game was October 15, 2010, at the Time Warner Cable Arena in front of 12,512 spectators, which set an attendance record for a hockey game in Charlotte. On February 26, 2011,

187-544: The attendance record was broken as 12,933 fans watched the Checkers defeat the Connecticut Whale 1–0. Almost a year later, on February 25, 2012, the attendance record was broken yet again as 13,102 fans watched the Checkers fall to the Oklahoma City Barons , 3–2. On April 11, 2015, the attendance record was broken a third time as 13,219 fans watched the last Checkers game at Time Warner Cable Arena,

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204-524: The pandemic, the Checkers were one of three teams that opted out of the 2020–21 AHL season . When the Checkers returned for the 2021–22 season , they remained the primary affiliate of the Panthers, but agreed to also serve as the affiliate for the 2021–22 expansion team Seattle Kraken . The Kraken's general manager Ron Francis formerly worked for the Hurricanes when the team was still affiliated with

221-550: The seventh hockey championship by a Charlotte-based team. The following 2019–20 season was curtailed by the COVID-19 pandemic and the Calder Cup was not awarded. Following the cancelled postseason, the Hurricanes ended their affiliation with the Checkers after ten seasons, resulting in the Checkers affiliating with the Florida Panthers beginning with the 2020–21 season. However, due to the ongoing restrictions during

238-491: The team back to Sabates and Scheer for $ 500,000. By comparison, Sabates had sold the team in 1996 for $ 5 million. The Checkers played at the old coliseum, which was later renamed Cricket Arena, until 2005 when they moved to Time Warner Cable Arena in downtown Charlotte. The team set their all-time attendance record of 12,398 on February 21, 2009 in a 5-2 win against the Florida Everblades . Their previous record

255-451: The team more popular. However, in a case of exceptionally bad timing, this came just as the NFL's Carolina Panthers were due to open their new downtown stadium . The team's popularity faded, forcing Braswell to sell the Checkers to Hornets owners George Shinn and Ray Wooldrige in 2000 for $ 3 million. However, Shinn and Wooldridge were unable to revive the team at the gate, forcing them to sell

272-737: Was 11,237 in a loss against the Texas Wildcatters in February 2007. On January 21, 2010, it was reported that Michael Kahn , who had bought the team from Sabates and Scheer in 2006, was in talks to buy the Albany River Rats , the American Hockey League affiliate of the NHL 's Carolina Hurricanes . On February 10, the sale of the River Rats to Kahn was confirmed. Kahn then moved the Rats to Charlotte and changed their name to

289-561: Was founded in 1993, and was owned by a consortium headed by local auto dealer and NASCAR team owner Felix Sabates , with former Charlotte Hornets president Carl Scheer and NASCAR drivers Richard and Kyle Petty among the minority partners. They played in the old Charlotte Coliseum , which was heavily renovated and renamed Independence Arena. Soon after winning the Jack Riley Cup in 1996, Sabates sold controlling interest minority partner Tim Braswell, who claimed he could make

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