A dad from Rock Hill, South Carolina, is suing the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority after he was hit in the face and injured by a hockey puck during a Charlotte Checkers’ historic playoff win.

John Leonard’s unassisted, short-handed goal was the difference for Charlotte. Game 2 of the Checkers’ series against the Hershey Bears is Saturday at Bojangles Coliseum.

The Charlotte Checkers found that out Friday night, falling 4-3 to the Abbotsford Canucks in Game 1 of the Calder Cup Finals. It was the third-longest game the Checkers have ever played.

Charlotte Checkers Rasmus Asplund, left and teammate Oliver Okuliar, right, fight for control of the puck during practice at Bojangles Coliseum in Charlotte, NC on Tuesday, October 15, 2024.

The Providence Bruins lost 5-1 to the Charlotte Checkers in Game 1 of their Calder Cup playoff series. ... Daniil Misyul kept the puck on the net before Wahlstrom buried the goal.

A record crowd saw Mike Benning’s power-play goal in overtime lift the Checkers to a 3-2 win against the Abbotsford Canucks in their AHL Calder Cup Finals series at Bojangles Coliseum.

Checkers center Kyle Criscuolo, left, struggles to get the puck into the net as Canucks defender Jett Woo, ... Charlotte Checkers dropped Game 1 in double overtime to Abbotsford Canucks.

Kevin Weiker prior to the Charlotte Checkers vs Cleveland Monsters game at Bojangles Coliseum in Charlotte, NC on Friday, October 18, 2024. Said Marquand, “it’s good to be back in the arena.” ...

While the Charlotte Checkers celebrated a thrilling double ... agency recently after he said the protective acrylic barrier at Bojangles’ Coliseum failed to keep the fast-moving puck in play.