It’s time to hit the ice. The Charlotte Checkers will face the Cleveland Monsters in their home opener on Friday, Oct. 18 and Saturday, Oct. 19. The team has already played its first two games on the road, bringing two W’s to the Queen City.
“I’m super excited to get back in front of our fans in Charlotte,” said head coach Geordie Kinnear.
Here’s everything you need to know about the 2024-25 season.
On the ice
Checkers fans will notice some new faces on the roster, including:
- Defensemen — Mikulas Hovorka, Jaycob Megna, Marek Alscher, and Tobias Bjornfot
- Forwards — Oliver Okuliar, Krzysztof Macias, and Kyle Criscuolo
- Wingers — MacKenzie Entwistle, John Leonard, Matt Luff, Riley Hughes, Sandis Vilmanis, Aidan McDonough, and Jamie Armstrong
- Goalies — Christian Pavlas and Chris Driedger
Fans will rejoice to see captain Zac Dalpe and forward Rasmus Asplund returning to the ice this season. Trevor Carrick also returns to the Checkers. He last played with the team when they won the Calder Cup in 2019.
“It feels good to be back,” said Carrick. “I’ve played on some tough hockey teams so I’m looking forward to getting back to a winning culture.”
Special promotions
Opening Weekend, Friday, Oct. 18-Saturday, Oct. 19 | The team is hosting a Hurricane Helene supply drive. Anyone who donates will receive a free ticket to the game on Saturday, Oct. 26.
Hispanic Heritage Night, Friday, Oct. 25 | Fans can expect live music + food and merch specials.
Oktoberfest, Saturday, Oct. 26 | Beer samples will be flowing at 4:30 before the game begins at 6 p.m.
Military Appreciation Night, Sunday, Nov. 10 | Ticket purchases include a special themed beanie.
Teacher and School Employee Appreciation Night, Saturday, Nov. 30, Wednesday, Dec. 18, Wednesday, Jan. 15 | Discounted tickets are available for college students and teachers + the annual Teddy Bear Toss on Nov. 30 will fill the rink for Novant Health patients.
Bojangles Book Drive, Saturday, Dec. 7 | Fans who donate at least one children’s book will receive a free ticket to the game on Dec. 22.
Holiday Extravaganza, Sunday, Dec. 22 | Expect to find special holiday ornaments and jerseys at the game this weekend.
Throwback Ticket Night, Tuesday, Jan. 14 | Prices start at $1 for tickets — the team’s way of honoring 1950s pricing.
Charlotte Clippers Night, Saturday, Jan. 18 | The team will wear specialty jerseys inspired by Charlotte’s first pro hockey team.
Fan Appreciation Night, Sunday, April 13 | Fans will receive a Trevor Carrick bobblehead + celebrate Chubby’s birthday.
Take a look at other theme nights this season.
New concessions
When attending a Checkers game, fans can expect fresh Bojangles’ chicken supremes, hot dogs, popcorn, craft and domestic beer + non-alcoholic beverages.
If you happen to visit the Red Line Club on the lower level (between the locker room and the ice), you may notice a few new menu items:
- Caramel cheese curds
- Carolina dog (yes, it’s a foot long)
- Taco salad
- Vegan Reuben sandwich
- Italian sausage (think: meatball sub)
- Chicago beef (a prime rib sandwich)
- Chicago dog
- Mini corndogs
- Loaded onion rings
- Fried steak sandwich
- Poutine chips
- Chips and cheese sauce
- Pastrami on rye
About the team
The Charlotte Checkers have a long history in the Queen City, dating back to the 1950s. When the EHL’s Baltimore Clippers’ rink burned down and the team needed a rink for its final five home games, they came to the Charlotte Coliseum (now Bojangles Coliseum). After pulling high attendance, the team’s owner kept them in the Queen City, renaming them the Charlotte Clippers. Eventually, in 1959, the team finally became the Checkers.
The team’s time on the ice ended when the Southern Hockey League folded in 1977. In 1992, the Checkers returned to the Queen City as part of the ECHL, played at the Spectrum Center for 10 seasons, then returned to Bojangles in 2015.
Now, the team is part of the AHL and owned by Zawyer’s Sports & Entertainment and Michael Kahn. Under Kahn, the Checkers brought outdoor professional hockey to Uptown — drawing a sold-out crowd to Truist Field for the Queen City Outdoor Classic in January 2024.
“The Checkers are a team rich with history and an incredible fan base and we are honored to do our part in making Checkers Nation proud - not just on game days, but all year long in this very special community,” said Andy Kaufmann, CEO of Zawyer’s Sports & Entertainment.
