Charlotte, NC - Head coach and general manager of the Charlotte Checkers, Derek Wilkinson announced today that the team has traded for goaltender David McKee from the Phoenix Roadrunners in exchange for forward Colin Sinclair. Also, the team has agreed to terms with defenseman Ethan Graham.
McKee, 6-foot-1, 187 pounds hails from Irving, Texas. He split time between three teams last season with the majority being 23 games spent with the Roadrunners where he compiled a record of 6-10-4 with a goals against average of 3.77 and a save percentage of .898. He also suited up for one game with the Augusta Lynx and two with the Iowa Stars of the American Hockey League. McKee played three seasons at Cornell University before turning pro during the 2006-07 campaign where he suited up in 52 games with Augusta and seven with the Portland Pirates (AHL).
Graham, 6-foot-2, 182 pounds played four seasons for Michigan State University where he compiled 11 goals, 39 assists for 50 points in 162 games while adding 100 penalty minutes. Last season, he spent 10 games with the Idaho Steelheads registering one goal and 47 with the Iowa Stars (AHL) scoring one goal, four assists totaling five points with 36 penalty minutes. The Xenia, Ohio blueliner says he is looking forward to his second professional season.
"It's like anything else where you have a better understanding the second time around, "remarked Graham." I am more prepared for the length of a season and what it takes to be a pro and I look forward to getting back into it."
