The National Hockey League’s Carolina Hurricanes today announced the festivities surrounding the team’s first-ever Alumni Fantasy Game, to be held on Sunday, April 1 at 3 p.m. Ten locally-based Hurricanes alumni, including Ron Francis, Rod Brind’Amour and Glen Wesley, will participate in the game at PNC Arena. The event is open to the public and free of charge, with an optional contribution to the Kids ‘N Community Foundation at the door.

The 10 alumni will be joined by 30 players who paid to participate in the Fantasy Game, and are broken into teams as follows:

WHITE TEAM RED TEAM

Rod Brind’Amour (C) Ron Francis (C)

Glen Wesley (A) Shane Willis

Jesse Boulerice Aaron Ward

Robert Kron Steven Halko

Tripp Tracy Steve Rice

One final spot has opened up for a paid participant to join the game, playing under Captain Rod Brind’Amour on the White Team. That slot is being auctioned online here: http://carhur.com/cxj. Players must be 18 years old and have hockey-playing experience. All proceeds from the purchase of spots in the Alumni Fantasy Game benefit the Kids ‘N Community Foundation.

For the fans attending the event, the Hurricanes will create a game atmosphere in the arena, including Hurricanes Play-by-Play Announcer John Forslund’s call on the video board, Stormy, the Eye Care Associates Storm Squad and more. Hurricanes Head Coach Kirk Muller and his staff will serve as coaches for the game, which will be no-hitting, with three running-clock periods and full intermissions. Food and beverage will be for sale in the arena, and the Kids ‘N Community Foundation will offer a silent auction during the game, featuring select game-worn jerseys from the Canes Alumni Game, as well as other rare Hurricanes memorabilia.

Doors open to all fans at 2 p.m. and seating will be general admission. Fans are asked to park and enter through the East side of PNC Arena, and parking is free of charge.

The Carolina Hurricanes Kids ‘N Community Foundation provides much needed funding to children’s charities and education programs throughout North Carolina. The Foundation has funded scholarship programs, youth hockey, educational and literacy efforts, children’s health programs, the arts and other children’s related initiatives. Annually, the Foundation provides cash and in-kind contributions of more than $1 million to charitable and educational programs in North Carolina. Every member of the Hurricanes organization is actively involved in community activities and the Hurricanes take great pride in the ability to have a positive impact in our state.

The Carolina Hurricanes host the St. Louis Blues on Thursday at PNC Arena (7 p.m., FOX Sports Carolinas HD, Hurricanes Radio Network). For information on 2011-12 Carolina Hurricanes ticket packages, please visit www.CarolinaHurricanes.com, or call 1-866-NHL-CANES.

The Carolina Hurricanes’ Jeff Skinner scored two goals as the Canes beat Tampa Bay to move within seven points of NHL playoff position. “We’re quietly sneaking up on teams,” Canes coach Kirk Muller said. “We’re putting points together. We’re playing some good road hockey right now. Really, we’re doing it as a team.”

The Lightning fell five points behind eighth-place Washington in the playoff race.

Southeast Division
Team W L OT Pts
Florida 31 23 13 75
Washington 34 28 6 74
Winnipeg 32 29 8 72
Tampa Bay 31 30 7 69
Carolina 26 27 15 67

The Carolina Hurricanes capped off their most successful month of the season with a 4-3 victory over the Nashville Predators. The win was the Canes’ sixth this month, as they finish February with a 6-1-4 record, earning points in 10 of 11 games.

Cam Ward made 26 saves in his return to the crease, and Bryan Allen netted the game-winning goal. “They gave it us pretty good in Nashville last time, and it was a good lesson for us,” head coach Kirk Muller said. “We knew if we didn’t play hard tonight, compete and go after them that we wouldn’t be able to stay with them in this game.”

Allen scored his first goal in 94 games and first as a Hurricane in the third period, what turned out to be the game-winner. He came out of the box after serving a slashing penalty and was off to the races on a breakaway. He slid the puck through Anders Lindback’s pads and nearly fell while celebrating. Being rumored in trades just a day prior, you couldn’t write this script any better.

“Burst that bubble here, and you never know what’s going to happen in the last 20 games,” Allen joked about his goal-scoring prowess. And his breakway move? “I can’t let them all out,” he said with a toothless grin. “I guess that’s one of a couple.”

-News release

The Carolina Hurricanes announced today that the team has agreed to terms with forward Tuomo Ruutu on a four-year contract extension. The deal will pay Ruutu $4 million in 2012-13, and $5 million per season in the 2013-14, 2014-15 and 2015-16 seasons.

“Players like Tuomo are extremely difficult to replace, and it is very important for our franchise to keep him here long term,” said Canes GM Jim Rutherford. “Along with the physical elements and skill level that he brings on the ice, Tuomo is a popular leader in our locker room. We are very happy that he has committed to what we are building here, and is excited about what the future holds for the Hurricanes.”

Ruutu, 29, ranks second among Hurricanes skaters in goals (17) and fourth in points (30) in 57 games this season. The Vantaa, Finland, native is second on the team in hits (106) and tied for fourth on the team in plus/minus (+3). Ruutu played in his 500th career NHL game on Dec. 31 at Tampa Bay, and had a six-game point streak from Dec. 15-27 (5 goals, 2 assists).

Originally drafted by the Chicago Blackhawks with the ninth overall selection of the 2001 NHL Entry Draft, Ruutu has totaled 128 goals, 167 assists (295 points) and 498 penalty minutes in 517 career NHL games with Chicago and Carolina. The Hurricanes acquired Ruutu from Chicago on Feb. 26, 2008, in exchange for Andrew Ladd, and he has earned 187 points (80g, 107a) in 289 games with Carolina. He established single-season career highs in goals (26) in 2008-09, and points (57) in 2010-11, and made his Stanley Cup playoff debut in 2009, helping the Hurricanes reach the Eastern Conference Final.

Ruutu has represented his native Finland in 10 major international tournaments, including the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, when Finland won bronze. He was third among all skaters in goals at the 2011 IIHF World Championship, leading Finland to the gold medal.

The Carolina Hurricanes host the Anaheim Ducks on Thursday at the RBC Center (7 p.m., FOX Sports Carolinas HD, Hurricanes Radio Network).

The National Hockey League’s Carolina Hurricanes today announced plans to host their first-ever Alumni Fantasy Game on Sunday, April 1 at 3 p.m. The event will provide fans a chance to get an NHL experience, skating in a game that includes locally-based Hurricanes alumni on the ice at the RBC Center. All proceeds from the event will benefit the Carolina Hurricanes Kids ‘N Community Foundation.

Ten Hurricanes alumni are scheduled to participate in the Alumni Fantasy Game: Ron Francis, Rod Brind’Amour, Glen Wesley, Jesse Boulerice, Aaron Ward, Shane Willis, Robert Kron, Steve Halko, Steve Rice and Tripp Tracy. Participants will dress in the Hurricanes’ locker room and enjoy a game atmosphere in the arena, including Hurricanes Play-by-Play Announcer John Forslund’s call on the video board, Stormy, the Eye Care Associates Storm Squad and more. Hurricanes Head Coach Kirk Muller and his staff will serve as coaches for the game, which will be no-hitting, with three running-clock periods and full intermissions. Fans not participating on the ice are welcome to watch the game free of charge, with an optional contribution to the Kids ‘N Community Foundation at the door.

The entry fee for playing in the Alumni Fantasy Game is $1,500, and includes:

Participation in the game on the ice, and the full game-day player experience
A personalized, authentic Hurricanes jersey
Four lower-level tickets for the Hurricanes’ home game against the New Jersey Devils on March 31
A DVD of the Alumni Fantasy Game, as called by John Forslund
Access for four people to a post-game cocktail reception following the Alumni Fantasy Game

The 30 slots available for participation in the game will go on sale to season ticket holders, suite holders and corporate partners on Wednesday, Feb. 22 and are first-come, first-served. All remaining spots go on sale to the general public on Monday, Feb. 27. For more information about participation in the game please contact Shane Willis at [email protected] or (919) 861-5425. Players must be at least 18 years old and have hockey-playing experience.

The Carolina Hurricanes Kids ‘N Community Foundation provides much needed funding to children’s charities and education programs throughout North Carolina. The Foundation has funded scholarship programs, youth hockey, educational and literacy efforts, children’s health programs, the arts and other children’s related initiatives. Annually, the Foundation provides cash and in-kind contributions of more than $1 million to charitable and educational programs in North Carolina. Every member of the Hurricanes organization is actively involved in community activities and the Hurricanes take great pride in the ability to have a positive impact in our state.

The Carolina Hurricanes host the Anaheim Ducks on Thursday at the RBC Center (7 p.m., FOX Sports Carolinas HD, Hurricanes Radio Network)

The Carolina Hurricanes defeated the Washington Capitals 5-0, their second straight shutout over the Caps after a 3-0 here a month ago. Justin Peters recorded his first National Hockey League shutout, making 17 saves. Eric Staal extended his point streak to six games with two goals and an assist, and broke a record doing so.

“We came out hard, we were focused and it was a good performance by everybody,” head coach Kirk Muller said.