The Checkers today announced that they have signed forward Jacob Pritchard to an amateur tryout.

The 24-year-old inked a one-year, entry-level contract with the Hurricanes that will begin next season.

Pritchard is coming off a big seasons with UMass where he ranked second on the team with 47 points (16g, 31a) in 41 games and helped lead the Minutemen to the NCAA National Championship game before they fell to the University of Minnesota-Duluth. Pritchard was also named to the Hockey East Second All-Star Team.

Prior to transferring to UMass, Pritchard spent three years at St. Lawrence University and totaled 63 points (27g, 36a) over 96 games. The native of Macomb, MI, also spent three seasons in the USHL, including leading the Indiana Ice to a Clark Cup championship in 2013-14. Pritchard will now join the Checkers as they take on Providence for the first-round matchup in the Calder Cup Playoffs.