CHECKERS BRING BACK BECA, ADD D-MAN DONALD
Beca led Florida rookies in scoring in 2010-11; Donald former Yale captain
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Charlotte Checkers head coach and general manager Jeff Daniels announced today the team has agreed to terms with forward Matt Beca and defenseman Ryan Donald on two-way American Hockey League contracts.
Beca, 25, signed with the Checkers for 2010-11 but played the entire season with Florida (ECHL). His 50 points (22g, 28a) in 62 games ranked first among Everblades rookies and fifth among all ECHL freshmen. He recorded 12 multi-point games during the regular season, including five three-point efforts and two five-game point streaks.
The Mississauga, Ontario native was twice-named Sher-Wood Hockey ECHL Player of the week in 2010-11 and was a standout at Clarkson University prior to turning professional. He was selected as Clarkson’s Bill Harrison MVP Award winner during his senior season and helped lead Clarkson to an ECAC Hockey Tournament Championship (2007), a conference regular season title (2008) and two consecutive showings in the NCAA Tournament (2007, 2008).
Beca’s prior AHL experience includes five games with the Springfield Falcons in 2009-10, where he notched one goal.
Donald, 24, skated in 13 AHL games with the Providence Bruins in 2010-11, notching two assists. Prior to his loan to the Bruins near the end of the season, the 6-foot-3, 227-pound blueliner played 45 games with the Reading Royals (ECHL), scoring three goals and nine assists (12 points). He finished the season ranked first among all Royals’ skaters in plus/minus (+19) and third in penalty minutes (101).
Before turning pro, Donald played four years of collegiate hockey with Yale University (ECAC) and served as team captain during his senior year. He notched 24 points (5g, 19a) in 123 games, helping lead the Bulldogs to consecutive ECAC Regular-Season Championships (2008-10) and an ECAC Hockey Tournament Championship (2008-09).
Beca career statistics
Donald career statistics
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