AHL Charlotte Checkers

Checkers Sign Two Veteran Forwards

September 23, 2002 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Charlotte Checkers News Release


Charlotte, NC (September 23, 2002) - Checkers' Head Coach and Director of Hockey Operations, Don MacAdam, announces today the signing of veteran forwards Eduard Pershin and Walker McDonald for the 2002-2003 season. The announcement brings the Checkers' roster to nine players signed for the upcoming East Coast Hockey League campaign. Pershin and McDonald join Kurt Seher, Vince Malts, Kevin Caulfield, Allan Egeland, Nick Bilotto, Konrad McKay, and Ryan Murray who have already inked with the club.

Pershin, a center, joins the Checkers having played in 118 previous games in the ECHL for the Chesapeake Icebreakers, Toledo Storm, Birmingham Bulls and Wheeling Nailers. Pershin played in five games for the Nailers last season before a knee injury sidelines him for the rest of the 2001-02 campaign. A native of Tatarstaw, Russia, Pershin was a sixth round draft choice (134th overall) of the Tampa Bay Lightning in the National Hockey League's 1995 Entry Draft.

"Eduard is a high scoring, tough, two-way forward," commented Checkers' Assistant Coach Derek Wilkinson. "I played with him in the Tampa Bay organization with the International Hockey League's Cleveland Lumberjacks. He also was a former line mate of one of our new forwards Allan Egeland, so he'll have some familiarity here. He's a point-a-game guy in the ECHL and will definitely help us up front."

McDonald comes to the Checkers having played the past two seasons with the Lubbock Cotton Kings in the Central Hockey League. McDonald, a 6' 2" 196 pound right wing, racked up 35 goals the past two seasons while also averaging 160 penalty minutes per season. The Thunder Bay, Ontario native played for his father, Head Coach Bill McDonald for the Lubbock Cotton Kings in the Central Hockey League the past two seasons.

"All the reports I received on Walker were very positive," remarked MacAdam. He has excellent size, toughness and his skating level is where we want it. He will dominate the boards for us and be assertive when we don't have the puck. When we have the puck, he'll attack the net for us as well."

SIGNORETTI OPTS FOR EUROPE: Defenseman Andre Signoretti, who earlier this summer signed a contract with the Checkers for the 2002-03 season, has decided to play in Europe instead. Signoretti, who played for the Checkers the past two seasons, has signed on to play with Fassa Levoni in Italy. Should Signoretti decide to return to the East Coast Hockey League this season, his rights are retained by the Checkers.

TAYLOR SIGNS WITH INDIANAPOLIS: Andrew Taylor, the Checkers fourth leading scorer last season, has signed with the Indianapolis Ice of the Central Hockey League for the coming season.

TICKET INFO: Individual game tickets for all 36 Checkers' regular season home games are on sale now and may be purchased through Ticketmaster via phone (704) 522-6500, or via website, www.ticketmaster.com, or in person at the Cricket Arena Box Office located at 2700 E. Independence Boulevard in Charlotte (704) 335-3100. Group Tickets, Mini-Plans and Season Tickets also remain on sale. Specific ticket information can be obtained by calling the Checkers' office (704) 342-4423.

FIRST EXHIBITION GAME: Greenville Grrowl at Charlotte – Friday, October 4 @ Cricket Arena at 7:30 pm.

HOME OPENER: Greenville Grrowl at Charlotte – Friday, October 11 @ Cricket Arena at 7:30 pm.

The Charlotte Checkers enter their tenth season as members of the East Coast Hockey League, who celebrate their 15th anniversary this season. The team is owned by Carl Scheer and Felix Sabates. The Checkers play all home games at Cricket Arena. For more information on Charlotte's professional hockey team, please visit www.gocheckers.com, or call (704) 342-4423.

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American Hockey League Stories from September 23, 2002


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