WILKINSON TO COACH ECHL ALL-STARS 

There’s an old saying that goes, “It couldn’t happen to a nicer guy.” It’s a great saying because it can be used both as a compliment and as an insult. Well, in this case the saying is a complement as one of the truly “nice guys” in all of professional sports, Charlotte Checkers head coach and general manager, Derek Wilkinson has been named to coach the ECHL American Conference–All-Stars.

If you think of the number of players that right now are playing in the AHL THIS SEASON that started in Charlotte, and considering that the Checkers are winning 60% of their games with what on many nights is a make shift group, it would be mind blowing. Right now, the Pack have benefited THIS SEASON by having Wilkinson coach, Devin DiDiomete, Matt Zaba, Derek Couture, Jared Nightingale, and Ryan Garlock, is pretty impressive.

Congratulations Coach… You deserve the recognition…

Here’s the official release:

WILKINSON NAMED TO ECHL ALL-STAR GAME 

Checkers Head Coach Voted To Represent American Conference

The ECHL announced Saturday that Charlotte Checkers head coach and general manager Derek Wilkinson has been named to the 2010 ECHL All-Star Game. Wilkinson will coach the American Conference team along with South Carolina Stingrays head coach Cail MacLean.

It is the first such nomination for Wilkinson who was selected using a combination of win percentage and votes from coaches in the American conference. The Checkers are currently 16-10-4 and rank sixth in the ECHL with a .600 win percentage.

The native of LaSalle, Ontario is in his sixth full season as general manager and head coach of Charlotte and at 35 years old is one of the youngest active head coaches in the ECHL. He is 210-171-38 and has more wins than any other coach in team history.

Wilkinson has led the Checkers to the Kelly Cup Playoffs each of his first five seasons tying the team record for consecutive postseason appearances. In his first full season in 2004-05, Charlotte finished 39-26-7 and returned to the Kelly Cup Playoffs for the first time in three years.

Prior to coaching, Wilkinson played seven professional seasons as a goaltender, including parts of four seasons in the NHL. He was the first-ever netminder selected by the Tampa Bay Lightning, who selected him in the seventh round (145th overall) in the 1992 National Hockey League Entry Draft.

The 2010 ECHL All-Star Game will take place on Jan. 20 in Ontario, California.