Trevor Carrick has seen it all in the American Hockey League, on the east coast with the Charlotte Checkers and Syracuse Crunch and out west with the San Diego Gulls and San Jose Barracuda, having appeared in over 700 AHL contests and recently re-writing the league’s record books – becoming just the seventh defenseman to eclipse 100 career goals in AHL history with his goal on January 17.

Back with the Charlotte Checkers in his 12^th season of professional hockey after beginning his pro career in the ‘Queen City’ back in 2014-15, Carrick is thankful for all the PHPA has done to assist him throughout his pro career.

“They have the best interest of the players (in mind), and you might not realize that early on as a young guy, and you don’t really realize how crucial it is but as you get older, you realize that they’re super helpful,” Carrick said of the PHPA, adding, “they’re here for whatever you need. We get looked after and they fight hard for us, so they’re super important and we’re extremely lucky to have them.”

As one of the veteran leaders on his team this season, Carrick understands the importance of being engaged and involved with the union and understanding all of its partnerships and perks available to the players.

“I think it’s important. I don’t think they realize how much work they do for us and how important they are. Speaking for myself, being a young guy, I had no idea, and, yeah, I think being an older guy and going through it and learning a little bit more about it, I try to help them out,” Carrick said of the union and helping his younger teammates be more informed. “They do a good job at the beginning of the year with their meetings and explaining what they’re doing, what they’re here for, and just to take advantage of all the perks that are there for you.”

Carrick’s return to Charlotte last season came after leaving the organization as a Calder Cup Champion following Charlotte’s 2019 championship, and the veteran defender is part of the Checkers’ core of returning players who came up just short in their pursuit of bringing another Calder Cup Championship home to Charlotte last June.

The allure of playing meaningful hockey and working toward competing for another title is all the more reason Carrick continues to play at a high level.

“I think last year, especially, you know, coming two games shy, just giving me that extra motivation to get the job done,” Carrick said of trying to chase down another championship with the Checkers this year. “Obviously, we’ve done it before, and you know, it’s pretty special moment. Just building those relationships with a lot of guys, it’s a lot of fun.”

Entering year 12 – and his second season back with the Checkers organization – Carrick was named Charlotte’s team captain for the 2025-26 season earlier this fall.

Carrick follows the captaincy of former Checkers’ forward and PHPA Executive Committee member Zac Dalpe, and while he admits he might not be the loudest voice in the room Carrick leads the Checkers in his own way and clearly has the respect of his teammates in the locker room.

“As one of the older guys on the team I just try and set the standard with my work ethic, coming into the rink just kind of being a leader by example,” Carrick said of how he approaches wearing the captain’s C on his sweater. “Really, for me, I’m not the loudest guy. I’m just trying to lead by example.”

For Checkers’ head coach Geordie Kinnear, it was an easy decision.

“I think it’s very important. The way I look at it, there’s an intimate relationship with your leadership group,” Kinnear explained of the Florida Panthers organization targeting specific people to lead their prospects in the AHL.

“(With) Trevor, if you look back at our relationship, it started on day one. He was a young kid and I was an assistant coach,” Kinnear continued, telling the backstory of how the two of them had met and worked together at the start of Carrick’s rookie season. “When you have that type of relationship, there’s a lot of trust, honesty and he just plays the game the right way. Like, he’s done it. He’s won. So I’m super privileged to have a captain of his nature and, most importantly, to know the person and have a (good) relationship.”