Checkers ground Griffins, 4-2

CHARLOTTE, NC – An unassisted attack from center ice by Rasmus Rissanen,

the 20-year-old Checkers defenseman, caught Grand Rapids defenders cold. With 6.34 left in the game Rissanen put Charlotte ahead 3-2, his positive action taking the puck straight at Griffin’s defenders was certainly the games highlight.
 
Charlotte had gone ahead 1-0 with a goal from Justin Soryal in the first period. Joakim Andersson, pulled one back for Grand Rapids after Checkers Zac Dalpe got on the score sheet, his point streak is now at a season high of five games.
 
The 2-1 lead was short lived, however, Willie Coetzee of the Griffins scoring when his shot deflected off Rissanen’s stick to tie the game in the second period.
  Mike Murphy, the Charlotte goalie, made his fifth start in a row for another strong night making 31 saves. He excelled himself in the first period when Grand Rapids was really pressing.
 
However, it was Rasmus Rissanen, the young Finnish defenseman, who in 34 professional games had never scored, who stole the limelight.
 
With less than one minute to play in regulation Chris Terry scored number four for Charlotte with an empty net goal.
 
With the three-game losing streak behind them Charlotte can look forward to hosting Grand Rapids on Tuesday, January 16 at 7pm at Time Warner Cable Arena.
 
The Charlotte Checkers and 106.5 The End radio station held the inaugural Checkers with the Checkers charity event raising $5,344 for Hayden’s Hope, a local extension of the Children’s Organ Transplant Association.
 
EddieMitchell@proHockeyNews.com
Photographer at Tom.Nelson@prohockeynews.com