Needing another forward to fill out their roster for a pair of games in Oklahoma City, the Checkers have recalled forward Kyle Bonis from the ECHL’s Florida Everblades.
Bonis, a 24-year-old winger who signed an AHL contract with the Checkers in August, should be available for Friday’s game against the Barons. Even after the return of scoring leader Aaron Palushaj from the NHL on Wednesday, the team was short one forward after ruling newcomer Greg Nemisz out for the weekend with an infection that surfaced since his Checkers debut last week.
With 13 goals in 30 games, Bonis ranks third on the Everblades, three behind new Checkers teammate Matthew Pistilli. The rookie out of Ferris State University has two points (1g, 1a) in seven total AHL games, including one scoreless outing with Charlotte on Nov. 2 and a six-game stint with Norfolk to conclude last season.
Bonis, who the Checkers signed as an undrafted free agent, scored 19 goals in each of his last two seasons at Ferris State, completing a four-year career that saw him start as a walk-on before eventually becoming team captain. Along with Pistilli, center A.J. Jenks and defenseman Austin Levi, he becomes the fourth player on Charlotte’s current roster that began the season with the Everblades. Goalie John Muse also started in the ECHL, but with the Fort Wayne Komets.
The recent influx of ECHL forwards comes with ongoing injuries to Sean Dolan and Jared Staal and the loss of Zach Boychuk and Brett Sutter to the Carolina Hurricanes’s fourth line. Boychuk has four points in eight NHL games this season, including a goal and an assist against Toronto on Thursday, while Sutter has two points (1g, 1a) in his last three games.
Following this weekend’s games against the Barons, the Checkers have another five days off before beginning a three-in-three home stand on Friday, Jan. 17.
