Kings From Queen City: Charlotte Checkers Win Calder Cup!

June 9, 2019

2019 AHL Calder Cup Champions

What a season for the Charlotte Checkers. From going 51-17-8 in the regular season, to never facing potential elimination in any of the rounds of the playoffs, to just last night hoisting the Calder Cup on the ice of Allstate Arena in Rosemont, IL.

For the city of Charlotte, this is their first hockey title since the ECHL Checkers won the Riley Cup back in 1996 (which was the last time the Riley Cup was awarded). Overall, this is the 7th hockey title for the city of Charlotte, as previous pro teams have won 3 Walker Cups (EHL), 2 Crockett Cups (SHL), 1 Riley Cup (ECHL), and now 1 Calder Cup (AHL). With Charlotte being the birthplace of pro hockey in the Southeast, it's great to see such a historical market finally find success at the highest stage of minor professional hockey.

During the playoffs, I can't deny that I was very impressed with leading playoff goalscorer Andrew Poturalski, who ended up winning the Jack E.Butterfield Trophy as Playoff MVP. I was also impressed with goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic as he has been putting up fantastic numbers in both the regular season and during these playoffs. Him and Wolves goaltender Oscar Dansk showed what the future of NHL goaltenders is going to look like, and it was spectacular.

Speaking of the Wolves, credit to them with the work they put in this season. In only the second season as the farm system for the NHL's Golden Knights (and first without sharing duties with another NHL farm system), they impressed every step of the way and the future looks incredibly bright for those players.

Once again, huge congratulations to the Charlotte Checkers. Your 2019 Calder Cup Champions! With that, all minor professional hockey for the 2018-19 season has come to a close. What a season and what a ride!

-Marc of The Robinson Report

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