Gibson suffers first loss since June

SAN ANTONIO (Dec. 4, 2015) – Fans in San Antonio were treated to a rare event in Thursday night's game between the Charlotte Checkers and the San Antonio Rampage – a loss for Checkers goaltender John Gibson. It was his first since June 17.

"You know that streaks come to an end at some point," said Gibson. "You just focus on what you need to do and you let your play dictate the streak, not the other way around."

Gibson faced a season-high 39 shots in the loss. "[The Rampage] really brought it tonight."

Entering play on Thursday, Gibson had won 19 consecutive starts. This season, he was a perfect 12-0 with a 1.49 goals-against average and .944 save percentage, all best in the league. Dating back to the start of the 2015 playoffs, Gibson had won 26 of his last 27 games.

"Clearly this guy is too good for this level," said one American Hockey League general manager.

Indeed, Gibson was not expected to play much in the AHL this season. However, when expected number one netminder Keith Kinkaid was claimed from waivers while en route to assignment in Charlotte, it forced the hand of team management to ensure that the Checkers had a solid goaltender for defense of their Calder Cup championship reign. As someone who does not need to go through waivers to be assigned, that man was Gibson.

"We still expect that Gibby will get some experience with the big club this year," said Carolina Hurricanes and Checkers general manager Kevin Lacy when the season began.

For now, Gibson continues to torment opposing shooters in the American Hockey League. The one thing that Thursday's game proved is that he is not invincible.


Checking Out the West
In the American Hockey League, changes are quite common, even for defending Calder Cup Champions. Players move up and move out. Affiliates change and teams move. However, the Charlotte Checkers have to deal with a change unique all to them -- moving to the Western Conference.
 
With two additional California teams added to the AHL fold (Stockton and San Jose), realignment was introduced only a year after the introduction of the Elite Hockey Experience. The format switch from six divisions to four led to the two teams based in the Carolinas being placed to play in the AHL's Western Conference.
 
It's a curious case that of all the teams that would end up switching conferences, it would be the team that won last season's Calder Cup championship.

"It's kind of neat for us," Checkers captain Aaron Johnson says. "We look at it as an extra challenge of not only defending our title but also trying to win it from a different conference in back-to-back years."

Questions loomed after last season about the team's stability in Charlotte despite the championship victory and decent attendance. The team was unable to restructure their lease agreement to remain at the Time Warner Cable Arena. By moving into the Western Conference, the team was rumored to move to San Diego to cut travel expenses and be in closer proximity with other conference teams. However, city leadership convinced the team to stay in Charlotte with its major renovation of the Bojangles' Coliseum.

"This seemed to be something that was right," said Mayor Dan Clodfelter. “We didn’t want to lose the opportunity with the Checkers."

So far, the switch of conferences has not adversely affected the Checkers' production on the ice. They hold the best record in the league at 13-2-0.

Meanwhile, the folks in Hershey, PA could not be more thrilled to be rid of the Checkers from the Eastern Conference. The Bears were the only team besides Charlotte with 30+ wins last season, yet were resigned to second place in the same division as the champs.