Checkers Sign Billy Christopoulos to PTO, Release Devan Dubnyk

The Checkers today signed goaltender Billy Christopoulos to a professional tryout contract.

Christopoulos, a Raleigh native who played youth hockey for the Jr. Hurricanes, currently ranks second in the ECHL in wins (13), seventh in save percentage (.922) and ninth in goals-against average (2.45), with his strong play for the Toledo Walleye earning him the most recent ECHL Goaltender of the Month honors.

The 27-year-old is in his third pro season, logging a 48-10-6 record with a 2.33 goals-against average and a .925 save percentage in 65 career ECHL games with South Carolina, Indy and Toledo. Christopoulos - who led the ECHL in save percentage and earned a spot on the All-Rookie Team in 2019-20 - has also appeared in five AHL games, all last season with the Rochester Americans.

Prior to turning pro Christopoulos spent four years in net for Air Force, where he won back-to-back conference championships with the Falcons in 2016-17 and 2017-18 and back-to-back AHA Goaltender of the Year awards in 2017-18 and 2018-19, among other accolades. He remains on active Air Force duty while pursuing his hockey career.

Additionally, the Checkers have released Devan Dubnyk from his PTO.

The NHL veteran appeared in four games during his stint with the Checkers, going 2-2-0 with a 3.55 goals-against average and an .869 save percentage.