The Charlotte Checkers today announced that the team has signed goaltender Dan Ellis to a professional tryout contract. Ellis will join the Checkers as they begin training camp this Saturday.
Ellis, a 32-year-old veteran of 165 NHL games, spent the last two seasons with the NHL’s Anaheim Ducks before becoming an unrestricted free agent this summer. The native of Saskatoon, Sask., holds a record of 72-57-27 with a 2.68 goals-against average, .911 save percentage and 12 shutouts over the course of six NHL seasons with Dallas, Nashville, Tampa Bay and Anaheim.
Originally selected by Dallas in the second round (60th overall) of the 2000 NHL Entry Draft, Ellis played a career-high 44 games with Nashville in 2007-08, finishing the season with a league-leading .924 save percentage.
Ellis, who has not played in the AHL since the 2007 playoffs, is 61-67-3 in 140 career AHL games with Utah, Hamilton and Iowa. Over that time, he compiled a 2.80 goals-against average and .912 save percentage with nine shutouts. During the 2006-07 season, he ranked third in minutes played by a goaltender (3,194) and fourth in wins (30).
