His junior campaign now complete, forward Sergey Tolchinsky will finish his season with Charlotte.
A 19-year-old who the Carolina Hurricanes signed as an undrafted free agent this past summer, Tolchinsky ranked 10th in Ontario Hockey League scoring with 91 points (31g, 60a) in just 65 games. Along the way, the diminutive (5-foot-8, 163 pounds) winger made splashes with the type of highlight-reel skill that helped earn him an NHL contract after an audition at the Canes’ summer prospect camp.
Tolchinsky, a Moscow native with two seasons of North American junior hockey under his belt, became available for the late-season AHL cameo as his Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds suffered a sweep at the hands of Erie in the second round of the OHL playoffs. He was a teammate of fellow Hurricanes prospect Tyler Ganly, a defenseman chosen in the sixth round of last summer’s draft, and Charlotte native Bryan Moore.
The arrival could come at a good time with Checkers scoring leader Zach Boychuk going to Carolina earlier in the day. With Boychuk questionable to return in time for Sunday’s game against Grand Rapids, Tolchinsky could make his professional debut in the next few days. It’s also possible that a return from injury by Nicolas Blanchard and/or Aaron Palushaj could close that potential opening.
Other Hurricanes prospects to join the Checkers in the last month include forward Phil Di Giuseppe, a 2012 second-round pick, and Dennis Robertson, a defenseman acquired in a trade that brought John-Michael Liles to Carolina in exchange for Tim Gleason. Both of those players joined up at the conclusion of their college seasons at Michigan and Brown, respectively.
