The Checkers made a pair of roster moves ahead of their Wednesday rematch with San Antonio, recalling forward Carter Sandlak from the ECHL’s Florida Everblades and releasing defenseman Sean Escobedo from his professional tryout contract.
Sandlak, who has split the season between the AHL and ECHL levels, scored two points (1g, 1a) in four games over the course of his most recent stint with Florida that began Jan. 29. For the season, he now has six points (2g, 4a) and 11 penalty minutes in 10 ECHL contests and one assist to go along with four penalty minutes in 10 AHL games with the Checkers.
The recall of Sandlak should give the Checkers depth at forward as they prepare to play three home games in four days – a stretch that continues with back-to-back games against San Diego starting Friday. With Justin Shugg injured and Phil Di Giuseppe in Carolina, the Checkers had been playing without backup at the forward position.
Meanwhile, Escobedo returns to the ECHL’s Greenville Swamp Rabbits after playing in Charlotte’s 5-2 loss to San Antonio on Monday. With Ryan Murphy available after his latest reassignment from the NHL’s Carolina Hurricanes and Danny Biega and Mike Cornell getting closer to a return from injury, the Checkers should have no issues in dressing a full contingent of blue liners on Wednesday.
