When Can We Expect the Charlotte Checkers Season to Start?

If you’re like me, you’re anticipating the start of hockey season. Not only the NHL, but the AHL as well. And in case you have forgotten, our Charlotte Checkers are the defending Calder Cup champions. Due to the unfortunate pandemic and last season getting canceled before it could conclude, the Checkers still maintain the cup from their historic 2019 playoff run. Now the question is, when will they be able to defend it again?

As things currently stand, the AHL has circled February 5th as the anticipated season start date. This date has been pushed back a little, just as the NHL did with theirs, because of the ongoing pandemic. So while we all hope February 5th is the date we can watch the Checkers again, we don’t know for sure because of the uncertainties of the virus. It is likely that the league will have to make certain moderations for the season to get underway, no matter the start date, but at least we will have hockey again.

If things do not change, the NHL will begin their season sometime mid-January with a 52 or 56-game season, according to reports. Once they get going, then the AHL should follow suit. Whenever the season does come back, it will definitely be interesting to see our new-look Checkers, who will now represent the NHL’s Florida Panthers. I know like many others, I wasn’t a fan of switching parent clubs from the state’s own Carolina Hurricanes to the Florida Panthers. But I also believe that since we’ve been without hockey for so long, we will tend to overlook the unpopular switch and be more than ready to cheer on whoever is wearing red and black. Go Checkers!

Garett