Coming off their fifth straight playoff appearance, the Checkers have their sights set on making an even deeper run to capture the Calder Cup, and that journey begins on Oct. 13 against the Penguins.
This year’s season-opening squad boasts a mixture of familiar faces, new names and exciting prospects, so to prepare you for Friday’s tilt let’s get to know the group!
THE FREE AGENT ADDITIONS
#4 Casey Fitzgerald
- 26-year-old defenseman, third-round pick by Buffalo in 2016
- Appeared in 63 career NHL games for the Sabres and Panthers
- Logged 34 points in 74 career games for the Rochester Americans
- Claimed off waivers by Florida last season, appeared in four regular season games and two more during the Panthers run to the Stanley Cup Finals
- Played alongside Patrick Giles at Boston College as a senior in 2018-19
#9 Rasmus Asplund
- 25-year-old forward, second-round pick by Buffalo in 2016
- 183 career games played in the NHL
- Ranked eighth on Buffalo in scoring with a career-best 27 points (8g, 19a) in 2021-22
- Posted 62 points (13g, 49a) in 111 games for the Rochester Americans, most recently suiting up in the AHL in 2020-21
- Recorded 62 points (20g, 42a) in 170 games in his native Sweden before coming to North America
#10 Will Lockwood
- 25-year-old forward, third-round pick by Vancouver in 2016
- Appeared in 28 games for Vancouver during his three seasons with the organization
- Recorded 66 points (30g, 36a) in 113 AHL games with Utica, Abbotsford and Hartford
- After being traded from the Canucks to the Rangers in the middle of last season, posted 12 points (5g, 7a) in 17 games to help push the Wolf Pack to a postseason berth
#15 Patrick Khodorenko
- 24-year-old forward
- Logged 37 points (13g, 24a) in 93 AHL games for Hartford over parts of four pro seasons
- Missed most of last season due to injury
- Played with Dennis Cesana at Michigan State for two seasons
#20 Alexander True
- 26-year-old forward
- Appeared in 27 NHL games for San Jose and Seattle and posted five assists
- Totaled 202 points (88g, 114a) in 335 AHL games
- Led the Checkers in scoring in 2021-22 as a Kraken prospect
- Helped lead the Coachella Valley Firebirds to a Western Conference title last season
#35 Ludovic Waeber
- 27-year-old goalie
- Appeared in 115 games in Switzerland’s top league over six pro seasons
- Ranked fourth in the league with a .918 save percentage in 2020-21
- Represented his home country of Switzerland at the 2015 and 2016 World Junior Championships
- Making his North American debut this season
THE ROOKIES
#2 Mike Benning
- 21-year-old defenseman, 4th-round pick by Florida in 2020
- Totaled 83 points in 101 games over three seasons at the University of Denver
- Won a National Championship with DU and was named NCAA Tournament MVP in 2021-22
- Named to NCAA Second All-American Team in 2022-23, among many other accolades over his college career
#12 Kai Schwindt
- 19-year-old forward
- Posted 42 points (24g, 18a) in 135 OHL games over two seasons with Mississauga
- Could become the third teenager in franchise history to play in a season opener
- Brother of former Checker Cole Schwindt
#17 Skyler Brind'Amour
- 24-year-old forward, 6th-round pick by Edmonton in 2017
- Totaled 76 points (23g, 53a) in 145 games over four seasons at Quinnipiac
- Helped lead the Bobcats to a National Championship in 2022-23, was named the conference’s Best Defensive Forward and earned a spot on the ECAC Third All-Star Team
- Son of Carolina Hurricanes coach Rod Brind'Amour
#18 Mark Senden
- 25-year-old forward
- Posted 73 points (26g, 47a) in 170 games over five seasons at the University of North Dakota
- Recorded his first pro goal during a three-game stint with the Checkers at the end of last season
#23 Ryan McAllister
- 21-year-old forward
- Posted 49 points (13g, 36a) in 39 games during his lone season at Western Michigan University
- Ranked fourth in the nation in assists and sixth in points last season
- Recorded five points (1g, 4a) in four games with the Checkers at the end of last season and two more (1g, 1a) in three playoff games
#25 Wilmer Skoog
- 24-year-old forward
- Notched 76 points (40g, 36a) in 103 games over four seasons at Boston University
- Named to Hockey East Third All-Star Team in 2022-23 and Second All-Star Team in 2021-22
#26 Evan Nause
- 20-year-old defenseman, second-round pick by Florida in 2021
- Totaled 97 points (17g, 80a) in 131 QMJHL games over three seasons with Quebec
- Won a Memorial Cup last season
- Earned a spot on the 2020-21 QMJHL All-Rookie Team
#28 Jake Wise
- 23-year-old forward, third-round pick by Chicago in 2018
- Posted 84 points (25g, 59a) in 125 games over five college seasons - three at Boston University and two at Ohio State
- Put up two assists in his pro debut last season with the Checkers, then scored scored a goal in his one postseason appearance
THE RETURNERS
#1 Mack Guzda
- 22-year-old goalie
- Led Checkers in wins and minutes played last season as a rookie
#3 Matt Kiersted
- 25-year-old defenseman
- Surpassed his rookie totals with six goals and 21 points as a sophomore last season despite only playing in 49 games
- Appeared in 20 games for the Panthers last season and has now suited up for Florida in each of the last three seasons
#5 Calle Sjalin
- 24-year-old defenseman, fifth-round pick by the New York Rangers in 2017
- Posted eight points (5g, 3a) in 39 games as a rookie last season
- Appeared in 20 games for the Panthers last season and has now suited up for Florida in each of the last three seasons
#7 Zach Uens
- 22-year-old defenseman, fourth-round pick by Florida in 2020
- Appeared in 19 games for the Checkers as a rookie last season
- Helped guide the Florida Everblades to the 2023 Kelly Cup title
#13 Riley Bezeau
- 21-year-old forward
- Ranked second on the team last season with 84 penalty minutes, the third-highest total by a rookie in franchise history
- Recorded eight points (5g, 3a) in 51 games
#19 Gerry Mayhew
- 30-year-old forward, former AHL MVP and goals leader (19-20)
- Tied for the team lead in goals last season (24)
- Racked up 32 points (20g, 12a) over the final 36 games of last season
- Only one player in the AHL scored more goals from Jan. 11 to the end of the season
#21 Zac Dalpe
- 33-year-old forward, second-round pick by Carolina in 2008
- Ranked third on the team in goals (21) last season despite playing just 47 games
- Ten shy of tying franchise goals record
- 61 shy of tying franchise games played record
#22 Dennis Cesana
- 25-year-old defenseman
- Notched 12 points (1g, 11a) in 49 games as a rookie last season
#27 Santtu Kinnunen
- 24-year-old defenseman, seventh-round pick by Florida in 2018
- Ranked second among Checkers defensemen last season with 35 points (9g, 26a) in 69 games
#29 Cam Morrison
- 25-year-old forward, second-round pick by Colorado in 2016
- Set career highs with eight goals and 16 points in 35 games last season
- Posted 13 points (5g, 8a) in 16 ECHL games with the Everblades last season before earning a spot in Charlotte
#30 Spencer Knight
- 22-year-old goalie, 13th overall pick by Florida in 2019
- Appeared in two games for Charlotte last season, earning one shutout
- 8-5-0 in 13 career games for Charlotte, with a 2.79 goals-against average and a .907 save percentage and three shutouts
- 32-17-6 record with a 2.91 goals-against average and a .906 save percentage for the Panthers over parts of three pro seasons
#32 Lucas Carlsson
- 26-year-old defenseman, fourth-round pick by Chicago in 2016
- Tied for the league lead among defensemen and set a franchise record with 20 goals last season
- Named to 2022-23 AHL Second All-Star Team
- Set franchise record with 54 points and became one of two Checkers defensemen to score 50+ points
#36 Patrick Giles
- 23-year-old forward
- Was the only Checker to appear in all 72 games last season
- Totaled 13 points (3g, 10a) as a rookie
