Ryan Murphy’s recall to the NHL and a one-game suspension to Matt Corrente have led the Checkers to summon Austin Levi from the ECHL’s Florida Everblades.
Levi, a 22-year-old rookie who posted one goal in his first nine AHL games with Charlotte earlier this season, is set to enter the lineup for Friday’s road game in San Antonio – the first of a three-in-three set. The Hurricanes’ third-round pick (85th overall) in 2010 has 13 points (2g, 11a) in 43 games with the Everblades this season. Nine of those points have come in his last 18 outings.
Beau Schmitz, a more experienced option currently with Florida who may have otherwise gotten the call, is expected to miss four-to-six weeks due to injury.
Corrente, who recently became the first Checkers defenseman to record 100 penalty minutes in a single season since Zack FitzGerald in 2010-11, will miss Friday’s game as the result of an illegal check to the head committed during the 3-2 victory in Norfolk on Tuesday. He did not receive a penalty at the time of the play.
In addition to Levi, fellow rookie Keegan Lowe, who missed the last two games due to illness, is expected to enter the lineup on Friday.
