The Charlotte Checkers added three players to the roster for the upcoming 2023-24 campaign, inking goaltenders Evan Cormier and Cam Johnson to one-year, one-way AHL contracts and forward Mark Senden to a one-year, two-way AHL contract.
Cormier, 25, spent the majority of last season in the ECHL with the Kalamazoo Wings, going 10-20-3 with a 3.19 goals-against average and a .908 save percentage. He posted a 1-1 record and a 2.54 goals-against average and a .925 save percentage in two AHL games with the Manitoba Moose.
A fourth-round pick by New Jersey in 2016, Cormier has logged a 19-25-8 record with a 3.13 goals-against average and an .897 save percentage in 53 career AHL games for Binghamton Devils and Manitoba. At the ECHL level, the Ontario native is 31-36-12 with a 3.21 goals-against average and an .899 save percentage in 82 games for the Adirondack Thunder, Newfoundland Growlers and Kalamazoo.
Johnson was on an AHL contract with the Checkers last season, appearing in one game – a 20-save win over the Rochester Americans, in late January. and spent the majority of the year in the ECHL. The 29-year-old went 26-20-7 with a 2.85 goals-against average and a .907 save percentage for the Florida Everblades, then rose to the occasion in the postseason with a 2.10 goals-against average and a .922 save percentage – earning his second straight Kelly Cup and his second straight playoff MVP award.
A product of the University of North Dakota and 2016 National Champion, Johnson has appeared in 108 career ECHL games, going 59-34-8 with a 2.54 goals-against average and a .914 save percentage while suiting up for Adirondack and Florida. At the AHL level, the Michigan native is 18-25-9 with a 3.59 goals-against average and an .876 save percentage in 53 games for Binghamton, the Cleveland Monsters and Charlotte.
Senden, 25, is heading into his first pro season after a five-year stint at the University of North Dakota. The Minnesota native posted 26 goals and 73 points in 170 collegiate games – serving as team captain his final two seasons and helping lead the Fighting Hawks to a conference championship in 2020-21.
Following the completion of his college career, Senden joined the Checkers at the end of last season and appeared in three games – collecting his first pro goal in professional debut against the Springfield Thunderbirds on March 29.
NHL News
The Toronto Maple Leafs bolstered its goaltending depth, signing veteran unrestricted free agent Martin Jones to a one-year, $875,000 contract. Jones will likely assume the number three position on the depth chart behind Ilya Samsonov and Joseph Woll. The 33-year-old posted a 27-13-3 record, 2.95 GAA, .887 save percentage and three shutouts for the Seattle Kraken last season.
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Defenseman Cal Foote signed a one-year, two-way deal with the New Jersey Devils worth $800,000 at the NHL level and $350,000 in the minors. Foote became an unrestricted free agent after he didn’t receive a qualifying offer from the Nashville Predators. The 24-year-old appeared in 50 games split between Nashville (24) and the Tampa Bay Lightning (26) last season. He was traded by the Lightning, along with five future draft picks, to the Predators in exchange for Tanner Jeannot on February 26, 2023.