jerry heyman

HURRICANES RE-ACQUIRE VASICEK FROM NASHVILLE
KEN PRESTON

Czech centerman returns to Carolina in exchange for Eric Belanger

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE?February 9, 2007

RALEIGH, NC?Jim Rutherford, President and General Manager of the Carolina
Hurricanes, today announced that the team has re-acquired center Josef
Vasicek (YOH-zehf VAHSH-ih-chehk) from the Nashville Predators in exchange
for center Eric Belanger (beh-LAWN-zhay).

?We?re obviously very familiar with Joe and the type of game he is capable
of bringing to the Hurricanes,? said Rutherford. ?Going back to his natural
position of center, with his size and strength, will help our team down the
stretch.?

Prior to joining Nashville, Vasicek, 26, played five seasons with the
Hurricanes, recording 55 goals and 71 assists (126 points) in 316
regular-season games, and he hoisted the Stanley Cup with the team last
June. The Hurricanes traded the Havlickuv Brod, Czech Republic, native to
Nashville in exchange for right wing Scott Walker on July 18, 2006. Vasicek
has played in 38 games with the Predators this season, recording four goals
and nine assists (13 points). Carolina originally drafted Vasicek (6?5?,
214 lbs.) in the fourth round, 91st overall, in the 1998 NHL Entry Draft.

The Hurricanes acquired Belanger from Los Angeles on Sept. 29, 2006, along
with defenseman Tim Gleason, in exchange for defen***** Oleg Tverdovsky and
Jack Johnson. Belanger, 29, had eight goals and 12 assists in 56 games with
Carolina.

The Carolina Hurricanes will wrap up a three-game road trip on Saturday
against the Minnesota Wild (8 p.m., FSN South, Hurricanes Radio Network)
before opening a two-game home stand against Los Angeles on Tuesday (7
p.m., Hurricanes Radio Network). Tickets for all Hurricanes home games are
available at the RBC Center box office, all TicketMaster locations, by
calling 919-834-4000 or via http://www.CarolinaHurricanes.com. For information on
Hurricanes ticket packages, please call 1-866-NHL-CANES or visit
http://www.CarolinaHurricanes.com.

http://www.CarolinaHurricanes.com


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