CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Charlotte Checkers general manager and head coach Jeff Daniels announced today that Jerome Samson and Zac Dalpe have been recalled to the Carolina Hurricanes, while Zach Boychuk and Brett Sutter have been returned to Charlotte. In addition, rookie forward Mike McKenzie and defenseman Ethan Graham have been called up from Florida (ECHL).
Samson, 23, leads all Checkers scorers with 54 points (26g, 28a) in 53 games. The Greenfield Park, Quebec native ranks first among all AHL skaters with 245 shots on goal, third with 26 goals and fourth in points. It is the first call-up of the season for Samson, who made his NHL debut with Carolina on Jan. 7, 2010, and earned two assists in seven games with the Hurricanes last season.
Dalpe, 21, ranks tied for first among all AHL rookies with 36 points (16g, 20a) despite only playing in 35 games. The Paris, Ontario native began the season with Carolina and has played in 14 NHL games, scoring three goals and earning one assist (4 points).
Boychuk, 21, has seven points (4g, 3a) in 23 NHL games with Carolina this season and 39 points (15g, 24a) in 33 AHL games in Charlotte. The former first-round pick of the Hurricanes in 2008 has seven goals and nine assists in 56 career NHL games over last two seasons.
Sutter, 23, returns to the Checkers after one game with the Hurricanes. The Calgary, Alberta native has played in five NHL games with Carolina and Calgary this season, recording one assist.
McKenzie, 24, leads all Florida rookies and ranks eighth among all ECHL freshmen with 35 points (17g, 18a) in 51 games. The Whitby, Ontario native was named ECHL Rookie of the Month for December when he posted 17 points in 14 games for the month. An undrafted graduate of St. Lawrence University, McKenzie was the lone player on a Checkers AHL contract to earn an invite to Hurricanes training camp last fall.
Graham, 28, joins the Checkers for the fourth time this season and has four assists in 19 AHL games. He ranks fourth among Everblades defensemen in scoring with 18 points (4g, 14a) despite playing in only 28 of the team’s 55 games. The Xenia, OH native helped the Texas Stars to the AHL’s Calder Cup Finals last season and was a member of the ECHL Checkers.
The Checkers (29-18-6) are in action again today against the Albany Devils at 3 p.m. Get four tickets, four hot dogs and four Cokes for just $55 plus fees. For ticket information, call 704-342-4423 or visit www.gocheckers.com.
