CHARLOTTE, N.C. – On a brisk Monday morning in downtown Charlotte at Truist Field, the Charlotte Checkers hosted an open practice for fans to come to watch the team. The venue is the host of the Triple-A Charlotte Knights baseball team of Minor League Baseball. The team allowed fans to come to watch the team practice outdoors on the rink set up in the outfield. The practice only lasted 45 minutes, but it’s never bad to see a different way to watch a local AHL team practice.
The Sights of Practice
Charlotte Checkers goaltender at Checkers Outdoor Practice at Truist Field 12/12/22
Courtesy of Rebecca DaSilva
Although it had the makings of a normal practice that one would usually see at the rink during the week, Monday’s session did have a different feel with players sporting the eye black under the eyes to help with the reflection of the ice. The effect gives off outdoor hockey vibes that fans are used to now, especially on the NHL level. Fans are accustomed to many outdoor games on the big stage since the introduction of the NHL Winter Classic back in 2008, along with the Stadium Series.
Luckily, there will be an outdoor game on the AHL level coming on March 4th, 2023 in the Cleveland Monsters Outdoor Classic. The Cleveland Monsters will host the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins that day at First Energy Stadium.
For the Checkers and their fans, just being able to experience the outdoor practice is still something that could become an annual thing in uptown Charlotte at Truist Field.
Quite the turnout here at the ballpark! pic.twitter.com/EUk6QvCqkF
— Charlotte Checkers (@CheckersHockey) December 12, 2022
Just the photos and videos that the team and photographers have shown give off the indication that this was a great event. This is the perfect event to bring the city together and get people around Charlotte more into the Checkers than they already are now. The sense of having a community and being able to give fans a chance to see the team in a different light is perfect marketing for the team.
The Sounds of Hockey Stuff Happening
It’s a little sunny out here, but @SanttuKinnunen has a solution 😎 pic.twitter.com/GVcbfaxuVg
— Charlotte Checkers (@CheckersHockey) December 12, 2022
The sheer brilliance of Santtu Kinnunen to throw on some sunglasses gives people something to talk about. Fans don’t see players come out of their shells much, but to see players wear eye black and/or even sunglasses makes this experience better than they could imagine. Even more so, just the sights of having the city around the field and the ice gives the best atmosphere to watch hockey practice; let alone what it could look like in an actual game. The views on even just mundane practice shot attempts look stellar.
Save with a view 🤩 pic.twitter.com/rmW3qdWwDK
— Charlotte Checkers (@CheckersHockey) December 12, 2022
Imagine seeing these views and even more under the lights with the city of downtown Charlotte behind it. The Checkers could make a case to have an outdoor game at the Knights ballpark in the future. Just the turnout of the practice alone shows that people in North Carolina like their hockey. After practice, the players were able to bring their families on the ice for a family skate. The memories alone make it worth it for the players to practice outdoors and even for the families to spend time together on the ice.
Wrapped things up with a family skate! pic.twitter.com/uU5TUXX1Hj
— Charlotte Checkers (@CheckersHockey) December 12, 2022
Plus, it wouldn’t be complete without some players taking in the sights around the Charlotte Knights field at the upcoming festival with loads of stuff to do. The Knights have the rink in centerfield along with a super giant ice slide, activities plus so much more. That being said, some players did take the opportunity to have some fun on the giant ice slide.
The Finns simply could not pass up the giant ice slide 😂 pic.twitter.com/IGFjG2wvxZ
— Charlotte Checkers (@CheckersHockey) December 12, 2022
Moreover, it seems like the fans had more fun on the slide. The vibes were definitely high all throughout the event at Truist Field Monday morning. Also, in other news, the Charlotte Knights announced that fans can skate with the Checkers on the Circle K ice rink on Monday, December 19th at 7 p.m. EST.
You can skate with the Charlotte Checkers on Monday, December 19, at 7 PM on the Circle K Rink.
Light the Knights Festival, Presented by Truist
Now – January 6
Truist Fieldhttps://t.co/Rr7lO4dsRo pic.twitter.com/KBbK53zNmY— Charlotte Knights (@KnightsBaseball) December 13, 2022
Finally, it wouldn’t be an outdoor practice and even without a picture of the whole team:
📍The Great Outdoors
Thanks to @KnightsBaseball for having us out at their rink today! pic.twitter.com/R7UONB4WVe
— Charlotte Checkers (@CheckersHockey) December 12, 2022
If you want to check out photos from the Charlotte Checkers Outdoor Practice, our own Field Pass Hockey photographer Rebecca DaSilva took some really great photos. Check those out here below:
