The AHL has announced a four-game suspension for rookie Carter Sandlak, leaving the Checkers short one forward for tonight's rematch with Texas. Charlotte has filled that hole by signing left wing Kyle Jean to a professional tryout contract.
Sandlak, 21, was issued a match penalty during Saturday's game against Texas for throwing a punch at unsuspecting Stars forward Gemel Smith. As a consequence of that match penalty, the league announced today that Sandlak has been suspended for four games. The rookie will be eligible to play next on November 20 at Oklahoma City.
Jean, a 24-year-old Michigan native, comes to the team from the Greenville Road Warriors, where he has put up 10 points (6g, 4a) in nine games. The forward out of Lake Superior State has totaled 27 points (11g, 16a) in 114 AHL games with the Connecticut Whale and Hartford Wolf Pack.
The Checkers were already shorthanded for tonight, as Patrick Brown was absent from today's morning skate and will miss the game due to injury, per head coach Jeff Daniels. Brown went to the locker room at one point during Saturday's tilt, but returned later in the period. Kyle Hagel, who missed the last game, appears to be healthy and will return to the lineup, but with Ben Holmstrom and Justin Shugg still hurt and Sandlak suspended, the Checkers were still short one forward, a problem that was fixed by adding Jean.
Jean will look to help bring a spark to a struggling Checkers offense, ranked second to last in the league in scoring, as they take the Time Warner Cable Arena ice again tonight looking to avenge Saturday's 8-2 loss to Texas.
