Charlotte Checkers

Charlotte Checkers prepared for eighth straight postseason appearance

May 2, 2026 Ryan Henkel

The 2026 Calder Cup Playoffs kicked off this week, with 23 American Hockey League teams aiming to be the last team standing. One of those teams is situated right here in North Carolina in the […]

UpShot League set to bring women’s basketball back to NC

February 7, 2025 Asheebo Rojas

Professional women’s basketball will return to North Carolina in a little over a year. Zawyer Sports & Entertainment, the sports managing group that owns the Gastonia Ghost Peppers, the Charlotte Checkers and the newly formed […]

Cannon Ballers leading way in Kannapolis’ revitalization

June 15, 2022 Brett Friedlander

KANNAPOLIS — The Kannapolis Cannon Ballers have a slogan painted in large letters for all to see as they enter Gate 1 at Atrium Health Ballpark. “Have a blast!” it says. It’s a play on […]

Category 5: Trade deadline, reunions as Hurricanes face Leafs

March 17, 2022 Cory Lavalette

The Hurricanes are back in action Thursday after three days without a game, the final this season they’ll have that amount of downtime. From now until the regular season finale April 28 at PNC Arena […]

Expansion Kraken announces partnership with Charlotte Checkers

June 28, 2021 The Associated Press

SEATTLE — The Seattle Kraken will use the Charlotte Checkers as their American Hockey League affiliate for the first season of the newest NHL franchise. The Kraken reached an agreement with the Florida Panthers to […]

The man behind the Hurricanes’ masked men

May 5, 2021 Cory Lavalette

RALEIGH — Paul Schonfelder probably knew his playing career was coming to an end when his stint with the Cape Fear FireAntz was followed by stops with teams named the IceHogs and Mudbugs. No matter […]

Hurricanes’ Jordan Staal in COVID-19 protocol

January 15, 2021 Cory Lavalette

It took one game for the Carolina Hurricanes to have a player land on the NHL’s COVID-19 protocol list. Captain Jordan Staal, who played in Thursday’s season-opening 3-0 win in Detroit, was one of three […]

Black, Checkers attempt to navigate AHL’s return

June 24, 2020 Cory Lavalette

While major sports leagues around the world are trying to find ways to hold games and events in front of limited or even no crowds, minor league sports whose business models are built on ticket […]

Waddell, Staal discuss Hurricanes’ planned return

May 28, 2020 Cory Lavalette

RALEIGH — A day after NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman unveiled a blueprint for the league’s return to play, Carolina Hurricanes general manager Don Waddell and captain Jordan Staal met with the media in a Zoom […]

AHL cancels balance of season, playoffs

May 11, 2020 The Associated Press

The Charlotte Checkers will remain the reigning Calder Cup champions for at least one more year — but this isn’t the way they envisioned doing it. The American Hockey League canceled the rest of its […]

Charlotte Checkers