A 34-year-old native of Ontario, Newbury is in his 14th season as a pro. The veteran has spent the majority of his career at this level and has been a consistently strong producer, totaling 567 points (191g, 376a) and 1,806 penalty minutes in 788 career games, as well as earning an All-Star selection in 2007. Selected in the 5th round of the 2002 draft by San Jose, Newbury has bounced around the AHL, appearing for St. John’s, Toronto, Grand Rapids, Hartford, Connecticut, Adirondack, Hershey, Ontario and Bakersfield over his career, and has logging 76 NHL games with the Maple Leafs, Red Wings, Rangers and Flyers.
Last season with Newbury put up 26 points (10g, 16a) in 44 games with the Reign before beginning this season in the ECHL with the Reading Royals. The veteran appeared in one game and racked up three points before inking a PTO with Bakersfield. In 14 games with the Condors, Newbury scored five points before being released earlier this week.
The addition of Newbury comes after Carolina recalled Phil Di Giuseppe last night to fill in for the injured Jordan Staal and left the Checkers thin up front. As it stands now, the team has 13 healthy options at forward heading into this long road trip, as Brendan Woods, Connor Brickley and Patrick Dwyer remain injured. Newbury joins Cason Hohmann as the PTOs on the roster, though Hohmann has yet to make his Checkers debut after inking his deal last week.
