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A Charlotte Checkers fan reminisces on the longest game in AHL history: a 146-minute, five-overtime classic

By Donya Abramo

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May 10, 2018 5:47 pm

On Wednesday, the Charlotte Checkers and Lehigh Valley Phantoms played Game Four of their Calder Cup clash at Bojangles’ Coliseum. Five overtime periods, and six hours later, Alex Krushelnyski scored for the Phantoms, ending the longest game in the American Hockey League’s 82-year history.

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Krushelnyski’s slap shot came at the six minute, 48-second mark of the fifth overtime period. He could hardly contain his glee, jumping up and down in celebration as his teammates swarmed him.

Alex Lyon, the Phantoms’ goaltender, saved an incredible 94 of 95 shots, with the Checkers’ Alex Nedeljkovic stopping 51 of 53. The goaltenders were, unsurprisingly, named first and second star of the night.

Though not the result that they might have been hoping for, Charlotte Checkers fan Beth Aderhold remained until the bitter end (1:09 AM), supporting her team through some unexpected AHL history.

When we reached out to Beth to ask about the historic experience, she was glad to share a few insights and anecdotes on what, exactly, the game was like for the fans that remained until that final, fateful goal by Lehigh Valley.

“I would say at the end there were between 300-500 [people left], but I could be completely off,” Beth told us, when we asked how many fans stayed to witness Krushelnyski’s goal. “[The game] wasn’t sold out, maybe about 75% sold? Maybe 70%. Barely anyone left after regulation, but with each overtime more and more left.”

When we inquired whether she, and friend Megan Lank, ever thought about leaving, Beth said, “I asked Megan if she wanted to leave at the end of regulation, and she said no. She usually gets up at 5 AM, so in my mind it was up to her when we left. It was the principle of the thing that we stayed until the end.”

As the game drew on, it wouldn’t have been surprising to hear that the atmosphere got more and more subdued — especially with the crowd dwindling to a few hundred people — but Beth told us that wasn’t the case.

“The atmosphere was amazing,” she said. “Even during the final overtime [period], the fans were just as loud as if 70% [of the crowd] was still there. Everyone was so invested, but tired, that it was almost silent until there was a shot. When that happened everyone made the same noise. It was sort of surreal.”

Despite the game ending in a loss for Beth’s favored team, it was still worth remaining in her cushioned seat until literally the next day.

“I wasn’t even mad about losing because it was so engaging to see a game with that many shots,” Beth said. “I’m really proud of [Nedeljkovic], our goalie, and even [Alex] Lyon! 94 saves!”

We asked Beth whether she had any anecdotes of strange, or amusing things, that happened as the game wore on.

“Jason [Atkins], greazykeyz, the organ player, actually wasn’t there because it was his daughters birthday,” Beth told us. “He arrived at the start of the fourth overtime and everyone screamed. He is a big part of the atmosphere. When I saw him, I ran to him and fist bumped him. It was so good. He brought out a keytar and jammed out.”

“During the third overtime period, I tweeted at the Checkers to turn off the lights during the intermission so we could nap,” she added. “And they did.”

For those fans that couldn’t nap during the intermission, one of the Charlotte Checkers players had a unique solution.

“Add in [Aleksi] Saarela tossing smelling salts to the bros around us, and it was just such a unique experience outside of the game itself,” Beth said, to finish up her recap of the night.

The Checkers and Phantoms play Game Five in Bojangles’ Coliseum on Saturday. Though it is unlikely to break the newly set record for the longest AHL game in history, it wouldn’t hurt to be prepared for it.

Headline photo: @LVPhantoms

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