From intern to boss: New Checkers president ushers team into a new era
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Shawn Lynch lifting the Calder Cup when Charlotte won in 2019. Photo: Courtesy of the Charlotte Checkers
The Charlotte Checkers have entered their Shawn Lynch era.
Why it matters: Lynch, appointed team president in June, has risen through the organization's ranks since starting as an intern in 2003. Now he's at the helm of one of Charlotte's most successful sports teams.
Catch up quick: The Checkers wrapped up their season in June with their second trip to the American Hockey League's Calder Cup Finals. They fell short to the Abbotsford Canucks, but Charlotte rallied behind them and set attendance records in the process.
- Then, longtime team president Tera Black transitioned to an advisory role after 19 seasons. Lynch most recently served as the team's senior vice president before his latest promotion.
State of play: The Checkers have proven successful both on the ice and on the business side. Most of their corporate deals have two-to-three years left on their contracts, Lynch says.
- The team's staff is growing, too. They recently added four more people to their sales team.
By the numbers: Season tickets are up from roughly 1,500 to about 1,600 for the upcoming season, Lynch tells Axios. Their average regular season attendance was 6,976.
The intrigue: The Checkers' affiliation with the Carolina Hurricanes (NHL) ended in 2020 on sour terms.
- "They're a part of our history," Lynch said of their relationship with the Hurricanes. "But at this point, I would say that relationship is historic. It's not our future."
- The Checkers have since been the affiliate of the Florida Panthers. The Panthers are back-to-back Stanley Cup champions.
- "They are the gold standard as an NHL partner," Lynch said of the Panthers.
Zoom out: Zawyer Sports + Entertainment bought the Checkers in July 2024. The Florida-based organization owns several teams, including the Greensboro Gargoyles. The ECHL team is an affiliate of the Hurricanes.
What we're watching: Zawyer Sports + Entertainment owner and CEO Andy Kaufmann wants to own a hockey facility. There isn't a timeline for when that facility would be built or where it would go, but it is a priority for the team. The Checkers currently practice at Bojangles Coliseum, where they play their home games, and at Extreme Ice Center in Indian Trail.
- There's a limited amount of ice open to the public. Owning their own facility would allow the Checkers to grow their Junior Checkers brand and introduce more people to the sport.
- "I think that's the best way for us to grow the sport of hockey," Lynch says of a standalone Checkers facility. The facility is a "very high priority," he says.
What's next: A deep run in the playoffs means a shorter offseason for the Checkers, who return to the ice in Charlotte on Oct. 17 vs. the Iowa Wild.
- Find the full schedule here.
