Charlotte Checkers advance to the Calder Cup Finals
The Charlotte Checkers, one of Charlotte's most successful pro sports teams, will once again head to the Calder Cup Finals.
Why it matters: In this small east Charlotte arena, some of the world's hungriest hockey players are competing for a chance to shine in the South's emerging hockey spotlight.
Both the Checkers and their NHL affiliate team, the Florida Panthers, are competing in the finals for their respective cups this season.
Catch up quick: Charlotte's AHL team swept the Laval Rocket Tuesday night to win the Eastern Conference.
Flashback: This will be the Checkers' first trip to the Calder Cup Finals since 2019, and things went pretty well then.
What's next: The Checkers will play the winner of the Western Conference Finals, which are currently going on between Abbotsford and Texas.
The Checkers will host Games 1 and 2 of the Calder Cup Finals at Bojangles Coliseum on Friday, June 13, at 7pm and Sunday, June 15, at 4pm. Tickets start at $34.88.
If the series goes to Games 6 and 7, Charlotte would also host those games.
The full schedule is TBD.
Zoom out: The Florida Panthers begin a rematch in the Stanley Cup playoffs with the Oilers today.
The Panthers knocked the Carolina Hurricanes out of the playoffs.
This is the first time an NHL team and its AHL affiliate have reached their respective finals since 2008, according to the AHL.
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