CHARLOTTE, NC—Charlotte Checkers general manager and head coach Derek Wilkinson announced today that forward Mike Bartlett has been returned from the Milwaukee Admirals of the American Hockey League.

Bartlett, 25, played in four playoff games with the Admirals, collecting one assist. He has two goals and three assists in five playoff games with the Checkers before being called up, including a two-goal performance in Game 2, a 5-0 win over Cincinnati.

The Morton Grove, Ill. native began the season with the ECHL’s Johnstown Chiefs where he notched 10 goals and 15 assists in 30 games before being loaned to Lake Erie (AHL) in late December. At the time of his call-up, Bartlett was ranked second in Chiefs scoring. He was traded to the Checkers at the deadline along with defenseman and teammate Trevor Hendrikx.

In 41 AHL games with Lake Erie, the 6-foot, 195-pound winger tallied six goals and four assists. Bartlett also played 17 AHL games with Lake Erie last season where he potted two goals and an assist.

Charlotte (5-4) will host Cincinnati for Game 6 tonight in Charlotte (7 p.m.). Tickets are now on sale and information can be obtained by calling 704-342-4-ICE or visiting www.gocheckers.com/playoffs. Season tickets for the inaugural 2010-11 AHL season are now on sale and 40-game packages start as low as $200.

Notes: Aaron Slattengren leads the Checkers with nine points (2g, 7a) in the playoffs…Matt Schepke is on a four-game point streak (4g, 2a)…Charlotte is 11-2 in its last 13 home games…Charlotte clinched its first division title and #1 conference seed in franchise history heading into the playoffs...Ryan Munce led the ECHL in save percentage (.913), was third in wins (26) and was named ECHL Goaltender of the Month for March…Andrew Carroll led the Checkers this season with 30 goals, including six game winners.