The boys love their hockey, so we try and get to a couple of Checkers games a year. This one we think we did a good job on. Not only did we not tell the boys we were going - they only found out that as we pulled into the parking lot, but we also arranged for 2 other families to come along - friends from school.
Not only that but this game is the Teddy Bear Toss game, where after the Checkers score their first goal, the crowd showers the rink with teddy bears, either bought from home or bought as part of a ticket package. Even though the Checkers went down a goal early, it took less than 3 minutes for them to score, and stuffed bears rained down from the crowd. From Row U, I didn't have the arm so we sent all the boys closer down to the rink to make their donations. In all about 4000 stuffed animals were collected to donate to local charities.
Also there was a hockey game. The Checkers, in spite of their going behind early, played strong and skated away to a 5-2 win, much to the joy of the 8000 strong crowd.
This is a great family night of sport, not just because of the Teddy Bear Toss, but price wise. So much cheaper than the Panthers, Hornets or the upcoming Charlotte FC. And the team are good! I don't think of us as a hockey family, but we'll keep coming back to see the Checkers.
Charlotte Checkers 5 (C. Fleury 2, C. Carrick, C. Schwindt, S. Wilson) defeated Syracuse Crunch 2 (G. Dumont, S. Ryfors).
Crowd: 8,080.
L, G, B, W & Q @ Bojangles Arena
