CHARLOTTE, N.C. … The Charlotte Checkers scored three times in the third period to pull away for a 5-2 victory over the Rochester Americans in the Queen City Outdoor Classic on Saturday night.
A standing-room only crowd of 11,031 fans watched the hometown Checkers win the 12th outdoor game in American Hockey League history.
Rookie Mackie Samoskevich scored the winning goal 1:16 into the final frame. Brendan Perlini, who scored for the Chicago Blackhawks at the 2019 NHL Winter Classic in South Bend, Ind., added a goal and an assist for the Checkers, and Spencer Knight finished with 25 saves.
Conditions were ideal throughout the evening, with clear skies and a game-time temperature of 42 degrees Fahrenheit.
| AHL OUTDOOR GAME HISTORY | ||
| Date | Site | Result |
| Feb. 20, 2010 | New York State Fairgrounds Syracuse, N.Y. |
Binghamton Senators 1 Syracuse Crunch 2 |
| Feb. 19, 2011 | Rentschler Field East Hartford, Conn. |
Providence Bruins 5 Connecticut Whale 4 (SO) |
| Jan. 6, 2012 | Citizens Bank Park Philadelphia, Pa. |
Hershey Bears 3 Adirondack Phantoms 4 (OT) |
| Jan. 21, 2012 | Ivor Wynne Stadium Hamilton, Ont. |
Toronto Marlies 7 Hamilton Bulldogs 2 |
| Jan. 20, 2013 | Hersheypark Stadium Hershey, Pa. |
W-B/Scranton Penguins 2 Hershey Bears 1 (OT) |
| Dec. 13, 2013 | Frontier Field Rochester, N.Y. |
Lake Erie Monsters 4 Rochester Americans 5 (SO) |
| Dec. 30, 2013 | Comerica Park Detroit, Mich. |
Toronto Marlies 4 Grand Rapids Griffins 3 (SO) |
| Dec. 19, 2015 | Raley Field West Sacramento, Calif. |
Bakersfield Condors 2 Stockton Heat 3 |
| Jan. 7, 2017 | Memorial Stadium Bakersfield, Calif. |
Ontario Reign 2 Bakersfield Condors 3 (OT) |
| Jan. 20, 2018 | Hersheypark Stadium Hershey, Pa. |
Lehigh Valley Phantoms 5 Hershey Bears 2 |
| Mar. 4, 2023 | FirstEnergy Stadium Cleveland, Ohio |
W-B/Scranton Penguins 2 Cleveland Monsters 3 (OT) |
| Jan. 13, 2024 | Truist Field Charlotte, N.C. |
Rochester Americans 2 Charlotte Checkers 5 |
During the PHPA Annual Meetings, Executive Director Brian Ramsay surprised Bert Villarini by naming him the latest recipient of the Curt Leichner Distinguished Member Award.
PHPA.com’s Tony Androckitis talks to Marcus Crawford and Michael DiPietro after they were named the inaugural winners of the Doug Messier Award
The FIRST LINE program is helping PHPA members enhance mental wellness, reduce stigma, and support one another beyond the game.
Copyright © 2026. Professional Hockey Players' Association. All rights reserved.