When it snows but you still have to play a hockey game . . .
That was the condundrum facing the AHL's Charlotte Checkers on Wednesday. A storm during the day and a guarantee of icy roads at night prompted the team to take a drastic step: play in an empty arena. No fans allowed.
And at 5 p.m., about two hours earlier than the scheduled faceoff time, that's just what the Checkers (an affiliate of the Hurricanes) and Bridgeport Sound Tigers (an affiliate of the Islanders) did at Bojangles' Coliseum to complete a back-to-back.
The Checkers' staff (well, the ones who could make it, anyway) tried to make the best of the situation. A few highlights:We’re short staffed for tonight’s #BehindClosedDoors2 game so we had to get creative. (Thread)
— Charlotte Checkers (@CheckersHockey) January 17, 2018
The crowd goes wild for the start of tonight’s big game! #BehindClosedDoors2 pic.twitter.com/Anny3UOzxv
— Charlotte Checkers (@CheckersHockey) January 17, 2018
Would anybody like to play an intermission game #AwkwardSilence #BehindClosedDoors2 pic.twitter.com/duSjfOhHct
— Charlotte Checkers (@CheckersHockey) January 17, 2018
Best way to hype up a non-existent crowd? Cotton-Eyed Joe, hands down. pic.twitter.com/N8aCbwHz03
— Charlotte Checkers (@CheckersHockey) January 17, 2018
Awwwwwww!#BehindClosedDoors2 pic.twitter.com/nz9ZGyUOHzThere was actual hockey, too. The Checkers rallied to take the lead late in the third period and held on for the victory.
— Charlotte Checkers (@CheckersHockey) January 17, 2018
4-3 CHECKERS! pic.twitter.com/Vz8lxV2cVf
— Charlotte Checkers (@CheckersHockey) January 18, 2018Tonight was fun. Thanks for following along and staying safe. #BehindClosedDoors2 pic.twitter.com/XCYaL3UJ52"It’s more fun to play with people out there, but we need to do our best no matter what the situation," Checkers center Lucas Wallmark said, per the team's website. "It was the first time for me playing that type of game, but it’s good to learn from that, too."
— Charlotte Checkers (@CheckersHockey) January 18, 2018
"The game was so important that it doesn’t matter how many people in the stands (official attendance: 0), and I think it just took us a while to realize that the game was that important," Checkers coach Mike Vellucci told the website. The Checkers, who trailed 3-1 in the second period, increased their lead over the Sound Tigers for the final playoff spot in the Atlantic Division to five points.
Some of the AHL's more northern outposts gave their Southern colleagues grief, of course.We got 6 inches of snow yesterday and we’re all in the office today! #slackers 😉
— Milwaukee Admirals (@mkeadmirals) January 17, 2018These pictures were taken on Saturday 🤷♂️😏 pic.twitter.com/0ccMHtJt41Wednesday's storm was no joke for the Carolinas, though. The Charlotte Observer reported some parts of the state had received 8 inches of snow and parts of Charlotte had received 5 inches. Other local sports events in Charlotte were canceled, notably high school basketball games
— Rocket de Laval (@RocketLaval) January 17, 2018
