Nate Smith scored three goals Saturday night and the Charlotte Checkers opened their season with a 5-2 win over the Hershey Bears in Pennsylvania. It was the first hat trick of Smith's professional career, according to the club. He scored 12 goals in 47 games all of last season.
Cooper Black made 30 saves in goal. Jack Devine and Will Bitten scored Charlotte's other two goals, Bitten's into an empty net late in the third period.
The Checkers play in the American Hockey League, one step below the NHL, as the top minor-league affiliate of the Florida Panthers.
How it went
Hershey scored first, early in the first period. Smith tied it later in the period, finishing a pass from Cole Schwindt across the ice. Late in the second period he went around the Hershey goaltender to put Charlotte ahead. Jacob MacDonald tied it for the Bears in the final minute of the period.
Smith's third goal came in the third period, when he redirected the puck into the net to put Charlotte back in front for good. Devine tipped in a goal a few minutes later, and Bitten finished it with the empty-netter.
Around the game
The last Checkers player to score three times in a game did it against the same team. Sandis Vilmanis scored four goals against Hershey on April 12. Vilmanis was not among the players Florida sent to Charlotte this fall.
The win was Charlotte's sixth straight on the road, going back to last season, and its third straight in a season opener, according to the club.
Next
The same two teams play again Sunday at 3 p.m. in Hershey. Charlotte then plays at Providence on Oct. 10 and at Springfield on Oct. 11 before the home opener on Friday, Oct. 16, at 7 p.m. against Hartford at Bojangles Coliseum.
Every game streams on FloHockey, a subscription service. The season preview covers who is new and who left, and the full schedule lists all 72 games.