Charlotte has several rookies who are lighting up the scoresheet

It was an exciting and overall successful weekend for the Charlotte Checkers, and some familiar names played big roles in the fun.

We’ll start on Friday, when Charlotte kicked off its two-game set against the visiting San Diego Gulls.

Trailing 3-2 late in the third period, Checkers defenseman Lucas Carlsson tied the game with a wicked one-timer with just 3.1 seconds on the clock.

Veteran Gerry Mayhew would score a little over two minutes into overtime to seal the come from behind win for Charlotte.

Picking up an assist on the OT winner was Spencer Knight, who also made 14 saves while picking up his second straight win and third with the Checkers.

Less than 24 hours later, Charlotte would require another third period comeback if they wanted to sweep the weekend set.

Forward Brendan Perlini would answer the call, finishing a pretty passing play while on a two-man advantage for his first goal of the season to tie the game at the 5:39 mark.

Once again, the game would require more than 60 minutes, and once again, it would be Mayhew sending the nearly 7,500 fans at Bojangles Coliseum home happy.

Off an offensive zone draw, Mayhew found the loose puck between the circles and drove toward the net. His backhand went off the stick of Gulls goalie Alex Stalock and right through his five-hole.

“It was two good hockey games, fun to watch and obviously to coach,” Checkers Head Coach Geordie Kinnear told media at the game.

Mayhew admitted after the game that he was actually trying to send a pass to teammate Alex True, but he’ll take the favorable bounce.

“Lucky enough to do it tonight,” said Mayhew.

The back-to-back wins improved Charlotte’s record to 6-3-0 on the year and bumped them up to third place in the Atlantic Division.

They have also won five straight games at home.

“It’s a wonderful place to play, in front of a great group of fans that support you and are into the game every single time,” Kinnear said.

Night two also featured an on-ice corgi race, which makes us all winners, really.

Carlsson is now riding a four-game points streak, with 3 goals and 7 points during that span.

It’s also worth noting that through six games with Charlotte, rookie Jake Wise has 4 goals and 7 points. In his eight game AHL career, which includes a playoff game, Wise has been held off the scoresheet only once, while accumulating nine points (4-5-9).

Rookie Watch:

Wise has 4 goals, 7 points, a plus-3 rating, 9 shots and 2 penalty minutes through six games. 

Mackie Samoskevich has 4 assists, 9 shots and 2 penalty minutes through six games.

Ryan McAllister has 3 goals, 5 points, 11 shots and 4 penalty minutes through six games.

Justin Sourdif has 3 assists, 5 shots and 4 penalty minutes through five g

Mike Benning has 3 goals and an assist, a plus-3 rating, 17 shots and 8 penalty minutes through nine games.

“We have a lot of (rookies) so it’s important that the guys make the most of their opportunities,” Kinnear said.

“They’ve been great,” Mayhew added when asked about Charlotte’s rookies. “They’re moving their feet, they’re getting to the dirty areas, and that’s what coach preaches on, so if they continue to do that, they’ll score a lot of goals.”

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