The Charlotte Checkers have had plenty of plaudits come their way this season: a 50-win season, a team record 110 points, the American Hockey League’s top goaltender, the league’s coach of the year.
Saturday night in suburban Chicago, they added a Calder Cup championship to that list, the crowning achievement to their outstanding year.
The Checkers won their first-ever AHL title with a 4-3 victory over the Chicago Wolves, taking the lead 91 seconds into the game on a goal by leading scorer and playoff MVP Andrew Poturalski and never looking back. Alex Nedeljkovic made 26 saves as the Checkers won their fourth straight game in the series, going 3-for-3 at Allstate Arena after splitting the first two games in Charlotte.