Left with only one goalie since Carolina brought up Justin Peters earlier this week, the Checkers recalled Jesse Deckert from the ECHL’s Florida Everblades.
Deckert, a 27-year-old, first-year pro, attended Checkers’ training camp after signing a two-way contract with the club in August. Since his initial assignment to Florida on Sept. 30, he had been practicing with the Everblades, who are set to open their season this weekend.
Deckert, who has yet to make his AHL debut, provides another option behind Mike Murphy for the Checkers’ first two home games of the season against the Iowa Wild on Saturday and Sunday. The length of his stay in Charlotte depends on the health of Carolina’s Anton Khudobin, who went on injured reserve Monday, though Khudobin’s lower-body injury may not be as severe as it initially appeared in the previous day’s game against the Phoenix Coyotes. Khudobin is eligible to come off IR following this weekend’s games, which could lead to Peters coming back to the Checkers.
After joining the Everblades following his fifth year in the Canadian college ranks last spring, Deckert posted a record of 9-1-1 with a 2.40 goals-against average and .916 save percentage in his first taste of professional action as the Everblades’ top two goaltenders at the time, including former Checker Rob Madore, were away on AHL recalls. He was also the team’s starter in the playoffs, going 7-4-1 with a 3.17 goals-against average and .896 save percentage as the Everblades fell to the eventual Kelly Cup champion Reading Royals in their seven-game, second-round series.
