Checkers Assign Justin Agosta to Florida, Release Jared Staal

The Checkers reduced their training camp roster by two players on Tuesday by assigning defenseman Justin Agosta to their ECHL affiliate, the Florida Everblades, and releasing forward Jared Staal.The moves leave the Checkers with 25 players ahead of their first game of the regular season in Iowa this Saturday.Agosta, 24, begins his first professional season after completing a four-year career with the University of New Hampshire (2011-14) and Quinipiac University (2014-15). The 6-foot-3, 205-pound native of East Meadow, NY, totaled 67 points (12g, 55a) in 155 collegiate games before signing a two-way AHL contract with the Checkers in July.Staal, 25, spent the majority of his five previous professional seasons with the Checkers, scoring 33 points (17g, 16a) and 95 penalty minutes in 215 games. The 6-foot-4, 200-pound native of Thunder Bay, Ontario, and younger brother of Hurricanes forwards Eric and Jordan Staal and New York Rangers defenseman Marc Staal, rejoined the Checkers on a tryout agreement last week.Since their training camp began last week, the Checkers have added forwards Brock McGinn and Derek Ryan and defensemen Brett Pesce and Jaccob Slavin from the NHL’s Carolina Hurricanes. They had previously assigned forward Matt Willows and goaltenders Daniel Altshuller and Antony Peters to the Everblades. An updated roster and practice schedule can be found by visiting those links.