August 07, 2012 9:37 AM
The Checkers re-signed forward Matt Beca to a two-way contract on Tuesday, keeping him in the fold for a third consecutive season.
Beca led Florida, Charlotte’s ECHL affiliate, in scoring with 60 points (21g, 39a) in 62 games during his second professional season in 2011-12. The 26-year-old also ranked third on the team with 14 points (5g, 9a) in 18 games as the Everblades won the Kelly Cup championship in May. Over the course of his two-year ECHL career with the Everblades, Beca has amassed 110 points (43g, 67a) in 124 games.
The Clarkson University product originally from Mississauga, Ontario, made his Checkers debut in January, posting one assist, the first of his AHL career, in seven games. He played an additional five AHL games on an amateur tryout contract with Springfield at the conclusion of his college season in 2010, scoring once in five outings.
Beca (5-foot-10, 185 pounds) becomes the second member of the Everblades’ Kelly Cup team to sign an AHL contract with Charlotte in as many days. On Monday, center David Rutherford, who had five fewer points than Beca in five fewer games played, inked his first AHL contract with the organization. Those two are expected to contend for depth spots on the AHL roster at training camp.
The undrafted Beca, one of eight players to suit up for both the Checkers and Everblades last season, may have posted even more points at the ECHL level last season if not for a slow start that saw him score seven points, including just one goal, in his first 17 games. He then hit his offensive stride in a big way in December, posting 53 points over his final 45 outings, including three point streaks of six games or more. |
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