As they continue to struggle with injuries on defense, the Checkers have brought rookie Justin Agosta back from his brief midweek stint in the ECHL.
Agosta, who made his AHL debut in Sunday’s win over Manitoba at Bojangles’ Coliseum, took advantage of the Checkers’ four-day break between games by suiting up for the Florida Everblades’ 8-2 victory in Atlanta on Tuesday. He scored his fifth goal of the season in that contest, giving him nine points in 11 ECHL games this season.
With Danny Biega, Tyler Ganly and Keegan Lowe all missing practice this week, that conveniently close game was likely the only reason Agosta departed in the first place. Even with Agosta in attendance at Thursday’s practice, one day before they return to action for back-to-back games against Milwaukee, the Checkers were still only able to ice five blueliners, with forward Kyle Hagel filling in as a sixth.
There’s also the matter of Agosta’s impressive performance on Sunday, one in which the Checkers played the majority of the game with five defensemen for the second consecutive day.
“Agosta had a great outing,” Checkers coach Mark Morris said earlier this week. “He showed poise with the puck. I was encouraged by what I saw. He had a great opportunity and did a fantastic job in his first call up.”
Though not ideal, the Checkers could conceivably use five defensemen once again this weekend. Even with T.J. Hensick not skating, a development that led to winger Justin Shugg practicing at center, the team still had 13 healthy forwards.
