History of Charlotte Checkers in Timeline

The Charlotte Checkers are a professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League (AHL), based in Charlotte, North Carolina. As members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference, they serve as the top minor league affiliate for the NHL's Florida Panthers. Their home games are played at Bojangles' Coliseum.

1956: Original Checkers Team

In 1956, the original Checkers team began playing in Charlotte in the Eastern Hockey League.

1974: SHL Checkers Record

In 1974-75, the SHL Checkers earned 101 points, marking the first time a Charlotte hockey team had broken the 100-point barrier.

1977: Original Checkers End

In 1977, the original Checkers team stopped playing in Charlotte after playing in the Southern Hockey League.

1990: Capital District Islanders

In 1990, the franchise was originally based in Troy, New York, as the Capital District Islanders.

1993: Checkers ECHL Franchise

In 1993, a Checkers franchise began playing in the ECHL.

1993: Albany River Rats

In 1993, the Capital District Islanders became the Albany River Rats.

1995: Carolina Monarchs

In 1995, the Carolina Monarchs played in Greensboro.

1997: Carolina Monarchs

In 1997, the Carolina Monarchs played in Greensboro.

2005: Previous Checkers teams home

The Bojangles' Coliseum was the home of the previous Checkers teams until 2005.

2009: End of Checkers ECHL Franchise

In 2009, the Checkers franchise played in the ECHL until the end of the 2009-10 ECHL season.

October 15, 2010: Inaugural Home Game

On October 15, 2010, the AHL Checkers played their first home game at the Time Warner Cable Arena, setting an attendance record of 12,512 spectators for a hockey game in Charlotte.

2010: Relocation to Charlotte

In 2010, the Albany River Rats were sold and relocated to Charlotte for the 2010-11 season, becoming the Charlotte Checkers.

February 26, 2011: Attendance Record Broken

On February 26, 2011, the Checkers broke the attendance record with 12,933 fans watching them defeat the Connecticut Whale 1–0.

February 25, 2012: Another Attendance Record

On February 25, 2012, the attendance record was broken again as 13,102 fans watched the Checkers lose to the Oklahoma City Barons 3–2.

2014: Return to Bojangles' Coliseum Announced

In late 2014, the Checkers announced they would return to the Bojangles' Coliseum in the following season.

April 11, 2015: Final Game at Time Warner Cable Arena

On April 11, 2015, the attendance record was broken for the third time with 13,219 fans at the last Checkers game at Time Warner Cable Arena, a 2–0 loss to the Rockford IceHogs.

2018: Longest Game in AHL History

On May 9 and 10, 2018, the Checkers and the Lehigh Valley Phantoms played the longest game in AHL history, with a Phantoms' goal at 6:48 of the fifth overtime period. The Checkers made 95 shots against Lehigh Valley goalie Alex Lyon.

2018: First Division Title

The 2018-19 season was the Checkers' best season as an AHL team to date. In 2018, they won their first division title with 110 points and the Macgregor Kilpatrick Trophy for the league's best regular season record.

2019: COVID-19 Pandemic

The 2019–20 season was curtailed by the COVID-19 pandemic and the Calder Cup was not awarded.

2020: New Affiliation

Following the cancelled postseason, the Hurricanes ended their affiliation with the Checkers, and in 2020, the Checkers affiliated with the Florida Panthers.