The Charlotte Checkers

The Checkers are the affiliate of the Carolina Hurricanes of the National Hockey League and the Florida Everblades of the East Coast Hockey League, and have been in Charlotte since 1993. The partnership with the Checkers has benefited Presbyterian in many ways.

The annual Hemby Cup hockey game, which was established in 2001, has raised more than $600,000 to benefit Presbyterian Hemby Children’s Hospital, Presbyterian Blume Pediatric Hematology & Oncology Clinic, Presbyterian Children’s Emergency Department and the Arts For Life program. This special event also allows young patients a day to forget about their treatments, rehabilitation, and medicines and just have fun at a hockey game. 

• For the annual Teddy Bear Toss game, after the Checker’s score their first goal, fans are invited to throw teddy bears onto the ice. Each year, hundreds of teddy bears are collected from the ice rink by the Charlotte Checkers staff.  Those teddy bears are then delivered by Charlotte Checkers players to patients of Presbyterian Hemby Children’s Hospital, bringing joy and comfort.
• At a designated game each year, Checkers fans are encouraged to bring art supplies to donate to the Arts For Life Program at Presbyterian Hospital. All fans donating art supplies receive a complimentary ticket to an upcoming game for their support.