CHARLOTTE, NC – Charlotte Checkers general manager and head coach Derek Wilkinson announced today that defenseman Kevin Schaeffer has been loaned to the American Hockey League’s Lake Erie Monsters and goaltender Miika Wiikman has been recalled to the AHL’s Hartford Wolfpack. In addition, forward Jaime Zimmel and defenseman Luke Lucyk were released from their tryout agreements.

Schaeffer, 24, spent the majority of last season with the Providence Bruins of the AHL. In 48 games the native of South Huntington, N.Y. registered three assists and 14 penalty minutes. He also skated for the ECHL’s Reading Royals, appearing in six games while adding six penalty minutes.

The 6-foot-1, 200-pound defenseman was a sixth round pick of the Nashville Predators in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft and attended Lake Erie’s training camp this season before being returned to the Checkers.

Wiikman, a sixth-year pro from Sweden, spent all of last season in Hartford. He led the Wolfpack in games played (43), saves (1,043) and tied for the lead in shutouts with two.

The 5-foot-11, 180-pound netminder attended Hartford’s training camp this season before being assigned to the Checkers where he appeared in one preseason game.

With the call-ups and two releases, the Checkers’ roster now stands at 27 players. Training camp will continue until Thursday and the Checkers will travel to North Charleston on Saturday to open the season against the defending Kelly Cup Champion South Carolina Stingrays.