Carolina Hurricanes‘ 4th round pick in the 2010 draft (#105 overall) 4th year right wing Justin Shugg(52) came off his best season yet playing his first full campaign for one team, farm club Charlotte Checkers.
He reached career highs in games played (75), goals (16), assists (22), points (38) and shots on net (160), all good enough to get him a one-year extension to continue in the prospect system.
In his rookie season he was on a see-saw of call-ups and reassignments with ECHL affiliate Florida Everblades and eventually sent back down as the AHL club’s season ended to help them with their postseason run.
The former two-time Memorial Cup Champion with Windsor Spitfires of the OHL stepped back in with a team he had already posted more a point-per-game for during the regular season and went right to work putting up 7 goals and 5 assists in 11 games to help them with their first Kelly Cup Championship.
The 5’11” 185 lbs. forward would start his sophomore year in the lower league but when he was called up to the Checkers that would be his last visit to the sunshine state.
To start 2014/2015, the 22-year old got off to a hot start and looks to eclipse his goals and point total marks set last season.
It was good enough to earn him his first recall. He played in three NHL games skating an average of 8 shifts and almost 6 minutes of ice time with no points but did register three shots and three hits and 2 penalty minutes in his time up.
He was returned to the minors and will likely continue to light the lamp in the minors.