Checkers, Sound Tigers play in empty arena, great tweets ensue
Team closed game to fans because of inclement weather in Charlotte
NHL.com @NHL
The Charlotte Checkers weren't going to let a little snow rain on their parade.
After a winter storm dumped six inches of snow on Charlotte, North Carolina, the Checkers, of the American Hockey League, decided to close the game to fans rather than reschedule their game against the Bridgeport Sound Tigers on Wednesday, and they made the best of the situation by tweeting through it.
Only a few essential team employees came to work, so they were doing any and all jobs that needed to be done.
The mascot, Chubby was not one of the essential employees, so they came up with a pretty good substitute.
Until, that is, they dusted off Chubby's costume and put it on the team's corporate servicing specialist.
When it was time for player rituals, this one lacked a little enthusiasm. But kudos to goalie Jeremy Smith for staying in the spirit of things.
Come puck drop, the crowd went wild. (The crowd did not go wild.)
Intermission games didn't really go as well as when they have their normal 6,000 fans in attendance.
Hey, what's a hockey game without "Cotton Eyed Joe?" So there was that, at least.
They even tried the Kiss Cam, but, sadly, it lacked the smooches we expect to warm our hearts.
In the end, the Checkers won the game 4-3, and everyone stayed safe in the process. This was the second time the Checkers played in an empty arena because of bad weather. They did the same on Jan. 22, 2016. But if they ever have to do it again, we know there will be no shortage of fun.