The Checkers have added forward depth for their upcoming west coast swing by signing center Ethan Werek to a professional tryout contract.
Werek, 24, is tied for 10th in the ECHL and for second on the Florida Everblades in scoring with 26 points in 25 games. The 6-foot-2, 200-pound native of Markham, Ontario, who is playing his first season in the ECHL, also leads the Everblades with 12 goals.
The New York Rangers’ second-round draft choice (47th overall) in 2009, Werek has played 235 career AHL games with Portland and Providence over the last four seasons, scoring 76 points (33g, 43a) to go along with 159 penalty minutes.
Werek is expected to round out the team’s roster for the six-game road trip though California that begins Monday in San Jose. Prior to the holiday break, injuries to Carter Sandlak and Brendan Woods and Drayson Bowman’s departure to Germany had left the team with 11 available forwards.
