Yes, Charlotte Has a Hockey Team
Charlotte is home to six professional sports teams. Most people can name five. The sixth — the Charlotte Checkers — plays AHL hockey at Bojangles Coliseum, and they are one of the best-kept secrets in Charlotte sports.
The Checkers are the American Hockey League affiliate of the NHL's Florida Panthers. They play fast, physical hockey in a 10,000-seat arena with a game-day experience that costs a fraction of an NBA or NFL ticket. And in 2019, they won the Calder Cup — the AHL championship — making them the most recent Charlotte team to win a league title.
If you've never been to a Checkers game, this guide is for you.
What Is the AHL?
The American Hockey League is the top developmental league for the NHL. Think of it as Triple-A baseball for hockey. Every NHL team has an AHL affiliate where they develop their prospects, rehabilitate injured players, and give young talent game experience before the big leagues.
The AHL has 32 teams across North America. The Checkers compete in the Atlantic Division alongside teams like the Hershey Bears, Hartford Wolf Pack, Lehigh Valley Phantoms, Springfield Thunderbirds, and others.
The key thing to understand: Many of the players on the Checkers' roster today will play in the NHL. Some already have. When you watch a Checkers game, you're watching future Panthers stars before they become household names.
The Florida Panthers Connection
The Checkers have been the Florida Panthers' primary AHL affiliate since the 2020-21 season. Before that, they were affiliated with the Carolina Hurricanes.
How the pipeline works:
The Panthers draft and sign players. Those players who aren't ready for the NHL roster — or who need more development time — get assigned to Charlotte. When the Panthers need reinforcements due to injuries, hot streaks, or roster decisions, they call players up from the Checkers. When an NHL player needs to get back into game shape after an injury, he often does a conditioning stint in Charlotte first.
This means the Checkers' roster is constantly in flux. A player who scores a hat trick on Saturday night at Bojangles Coliseum might be in a Panthers uniform in Sunrise, Florida by Tuesday. That's the excitement of AHL hockey — you're watching the pipeline in real time.
Notable recent call-ups and prospects:
Mike Benning — Defenseman, 2020 fourth-round pick. Leads all Charlotte defensemen in goals (8), assists (23), and points (31) this season. Made his NHL debut in February against Columbus, logging 16:49 of ice time and earning his first NHL point with an assist on a Sam Reinhart overtime winner.
Ben Steeves — Forward, tied for the Checkers' team lead in goals (16) and points (29). Named to the 2026 AHL All-Star Classic. A goal-scorer who could see Panthers time soon.
Kayle Sawchyn — Florida's 2023 second-round pick, joined Charlotte after racking up 200 points in 166 WHL games. One of the top prospects in the Panthers' system.
Hunter St. Martin — 20-year-old forward, part of the Panthers' next wave of talent developing in Charlotte.
The 2025-26 Season
The Checkers opened the 2025-26 season with a retooled roster. Key additions included Jack Studnicka (nearly 350 pro games, 225 in the AHL with 162 points), Nolan Foote (a former first-round pick with 30 NHL games), and defenseman Connor Carrick, who set a career high last season with 50 points — becoming only the third defenseman in franchise history to reach that mark.
Through mid-December, the Checkers were 12-7-2 in 21 games, competing for a playoff spot in the Atlantic Division.
The AHL regular season runs through mid-April, followed by the Calder Cup Playoffs — a best-of-five format through the first two rounds, then best-of-seven for the conference finals and Calder Cup Finals.
Bojangles Coliseum: The Game Day Experience
Address: 2700 East Independence Blvd, Charlotte, NC 28205
Bojangles Coliseum is a Charlotte landmark. Originally opened in 1955, the arena was renovated in 2009 and seats approximately 10,000 for hockey. It's intimate in a way that Bank of America Stadium and Spectrum Center aren't — every seat is close to the ice, and the atmosphere gets loud.
Getting There
Bojangles Coliseum is located on Independence Boulevard, about 10 minutes from Uptown Charlotte. For parking, use Paul Buck Blvd./Arena Blvd. to access the lots.
Parking: For most Checkers games, parking is included in your ticket price. When fees apply, they range from $6-$10 per vehicle. Lots open two hours before puck drop. ADA parking is available.
Rideshare: The pickup/drop-off point is adjacent to Ovens Auditorium off Paul Buck Blvd.
Tickets
Checkers tickets are among the most affordable live sports experiences in Charlotte. Individual game tickets are available through Ticketmaster, the box office (open Wednesday and Friday 10am-5pm, plus 2 hours before game time on event days), or resale sites.
Season tickets and group packages are available directly from the team. For questions, call (704) 372-3600.
Game Day Atmosphere
Checkers games are family-friendly and fun even if you've never watched hockey. The team runs promotions throughout the season — specialty jersey nights, giveaways, food and drink specials, and theme nights.
Special game-day experiences are available on a first-come, first-served basis:
- Zamboni rides — Ride along during the pre-game ice prep. Riders must be at least 7 years old.
- Ring the cowbell — Kick off the game from the ice. Now available to the general public for the first time.
- Video board messages — Get a personalized message on the big screen during the second intermission.
Franchise History
Charlotte has a deeper hockey history than most people realize.
The ECHL Era (1993-2010): The original Charlotte Checkers were founded in 1993 as an ECHL team. The ownership group was a who's-who of Charlotte — auto dealer and NASCAR team owner Felix Sabates, former Charlotte Hornets president Carl Scheer, and NASCAR drivers Richard and Kyle Petty among the minority partners.
The ECHL Checkers won the league championship in 1996 and made the playoffs ten times. They built a loyal local fanbase and proved Charlotte could support hockey.
The AHL Upgrade (2010-present): In 2010, the Albany River Rats were sold to Charlotte beer distributor Michael Kahn (who also owned the ECHL Checkers). The franchise relocated to Charlotte, rebranded as the Checkers, and began playing in the American Hockey League — a significant step up in competition and talent level.
The AHL Checkers' first home game was October 15, 2010, at what was then Time Warner Cable Arena, in front of 12,512 spectators.
The Calder Cup (2019): The Checkers' crowning achievement came in 2019 when they defeated the Chicago Wolves in five games to win the Calder Cup. It was the franchise's first AHL championship and the seventh hockey championship won by a Charlotte-based team. It remains the most recent league title won by any Charlotte professional sports franchise.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Charlotte have a hockey team? Yes. The Charlotte Checkers play in the American Hockey League (AHL), the top development league for the NHL. They play at Bojangles Coliseum.
What NHL team are the Charlotte Checkers affiliated with? The Florida Panthers. The Checkers serve as the Panthers' primary AHL affiliate, developing prospects for the NHL roster.
Where do the Charlotte Checkers play? Bojangles Coliseum, 2700 East Independence Blvd, Charlotte, NC 28205. About 10 minutes from Uptown Charlotte.
How much are Charlotte Checkers tickets? Tickets are among the most affordable in Charlotte sports. Individual game tickets are available through Ticketmaster or the box office. Parking is often included.
When is the Charlotte Checkers season? The AHL season runs from October through mid-April, followed by the Calder Cup Playoffs (April-June).
Have the Charlotte Checkers ever won a championship? Yes. The Checkers won the Calder Cup (AHL championship) in 2019, defeating the Chicago Wolves in five games. It's the most recent pro sports championship won by a Charlotte team.
Is AHL hockey good? AHL hockey is fast, physical, and competitive. Many of the players have NHL experience or are on the verge of being called up. The skill level is significantly higher than college or junior hockey and the games are intense — players are fighting for NHL roster spots every night.
Remaining Home Games (2025-26)
Catch the Checkers at Bojangles Coliseum for the final stretch of the regular season:
- March 21 — vs. Lehigh Valley Phantoms, 4:00 PM
- March 22 — vs. Lehigh Valley Phantoms, 1:00 PM
- April 12 — vs. Hershey Bears, 1:00 PM
Check charlottecheckers.com/schedule for the complete schedule and away games.
The Bottom Line
The Charlotte Checkers are fast, affordable, and fun. They play in an arena with real atmosphere, they develop players for the NHL, and they've won a championship more recently than any other Charlotte team. If you call yourself a Charlotte sports fan and you've never been to a Checkers game, fix that.
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