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Riley Nash during the morning skate on Friday in Raleigh. He will play tonight vs. the Winnipeg Jets in Charlotte, NC. (Photo: Jenni Propst) It’s a big BIG day in Charlotte. The Hurricanes face the Winnipeg Jets at TWCA at 5 p.m. Tickets are still available, but I’m told the lower bowl is SOLD OUT! Let’s show the NHL what Charlotte is made of!!!
- A few game previews worth reading: GoCheckers.com, Raleigh News & Observer, Carolyn Christians preview at Canes Country
- Cam Ward is expected to play the entire game today in goal. He played two periods on Friday in his first 2011-12 appearance, and was strong.
- Other former Checkers and Hurricanes hopefuls expected to play include Zac Dalpe, Riley Nash (who will be centering a line with superstall and Rookie of the Year Jeff Skinner), Justin Faulk, Brett Sutter, Jon Matsumoto and Jerome Samson.
- Chris Terry, Zach Boychuk, and Drayson Bowman, who all played Friday night, will be healthy scratches.
- Mike Murphy is expected to travel with the Hurricanes to Winnipeg on Wednesday. Murphy and Justin Peters still remain with the Hurricanes training camp, but are expected to start the season with the Checkers.
- The Hurricanes made more roster cuts on Saturday. They assigned Nicolas Blanchard, Mike McKenzie, Cedric McNicoll, Jared Staal and Justin Shugg, as well as defensemen Michal Jordan and Rasmus Rissanen to the Charlotte Checkers.
- Blanchard and previously assigned Checkers Justin Soryal and Brett Bellemore were placed on waivers by the Carolina Hurricanes. This should be a technicality due only to their number of games played and contract status/eligibility. They will clear waivers at noon on Monday, and will not be available to start camp at 10 am on Monday at the Xtreme Ice Center.
- The current Charlotte Checkers roster looks like this:
| Matt Beca | F | |
| Nicolas Blanchard | F | *Must clear waivers |
| Mike McKenzie | F | |
| Cedric McNicoll | F | |
| Matt Pistilli | F | |
| Jared Staal | F | |
| Justin Shugg | F | |
| Justin Soryal | F | *Must clear waivers |
| Brett Bellemore | D | *Must clear waivers |
| Ryan Donald | D | |
| Michal Jordan | D | |
| Kyle Lawson | D | |
| Chris Murray | D | |
| Rasmus Rissanen | D | |
| John Muse | G |
Chasing Checkers 