NEWS RELEASE – Jim Rutherford, President and General Manager of the National Hockey League’s Carolina Hurricanes, today announced that the team has hired John MacLean as an assistant coach. MacLean joins Head Coach Kirk Muller and Assistant Coaches Dave Lewis, Rod Brind’Amour and Tom Barrasso in the team’s coaching offices.

“I’m very pleased to add another character leader to our coaching staff,” said Rutherford.

MacLean, 47, spent nine seasons as a coach in the New Jersey Devils organization, including seven years as an assistant coach. The Oshawa, Ont., native served as head coach of the Lowell Devils of the American Hockey League (AHL) in 2009-10, leading the Devils’ affiliate to its best-ever record and first-ever playoff berth. He was named head coach of the New Jersey Devils prior to the 2010-11 season, but was replaced 33 games into his first season as an NHL head coach.

Drafted by New Jersey sixth overall in the 1983 NHL Entry Draft, MacLean played 19 NHL seasons with the Devils, Sharks, Rangers and Stars, totaling 413 goals, 429 assists (842 points) and 1,328 penalty minutes in 1,194 career NHL games. A two-time NHL All-Star (1989, 1991), MacLean won the Stanley Cup with the Devils in 1995, and totaled 83 points (35g, 48a) and 152 penalty minutes in 104 career Stanley Cup playoff games.

MacLean is the Devils’ all-time franchise leader with 347 goals, and ranks second in New Jersey franchise history with 701 points. He was a teammate of current Hurricanes Head Coach Kirk Muller with New Jersey and Dallas, as well as with Canada at the 1984 World Junior Championship and the 1989 IIHF World Championship.

The Carolina Hurricanes continue a three-game home stand on Thursday against the New York Rangers (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.

Carolina Hurricanes’ television play-by-play announcer John Forslund said that there were not just a “few things wrong” with the Triangle-based professional hockey team but “many things that will take some time to fix.”

Speaking to a crowd of approximately 180 people at the Raleigh Sports Club Wednesday, Forslund said while it says a lot for the organization’s loyalty to “staying in the family,” a “much needed change’ in leadership was needed.

“Jim Rutherford needed to go outside the organization to get some fresh new ideas,” stated Forslund. “They will get that from new head coach, Kirk Muller. He will bring fresh, new energy to the team.”

Forslund spent time discussing the Hurricane’s defense in front of goalie Cam Ward noting that the dismal plus-minus ratio was indicative of the Hurricane’s poor play in the defensive zone. He indicated that while management was looking at trading for a forward it was his belief that the Hurricanes should be looking to upgrade it defensive presence.

Forslund also indicated it was a huge mistake for the Hurricane’s General Manager Jim Rutherford not to pursue in retaining Eric Cole in the offseason. Cole is now playing with the Montreal Canadians.

“I do not believe he is worth the money he signed for,” Forslund emphasized. “But I do think he took the pressure off Eric Staal. That is contributing to Eric’s struggles offensively. Rutherford would admit that there are some personnel decisions he made in the offseason that he wishes he could take back.”

Forslund also indicated that fans will see assistant coach and former Hurricanes forward, Rod Brind’Amour behind the bench assisting the team going forward. Brind’Amour has been coaching the Hurricane’s “Triple A Pee Wees” but management has been wanting to see him spending more time coaching on the bench during the games.

“That expectation (Brind’Amour behind the bench coaching) has always been there but with the addition of Muller and the struggles of the Hurricanes in winning games, the expectation is there more than ever, Forslund stated.

Raleigh Sports Club meetings are held most Wednesdays at Highland United Methodist Church in Raleigh. The meetings are from noon until 1 pm; however, the Southern Buffet line opens at 11:30 am. For more information on the club, including upcoming speakers, please visit www.raleighsportsclub.org.

– By Greg Pierce

Chester McGlockton, a former defensive tackle in the NFL and native of Whiteville, NC, has died in California at the age of 42.

It seems like yesterday that I was casting a ballot for him as an all-state high school tight end. He was a man among boys in high school. McGlockton led his Whiteville team to a 15-0 record and a state championship. He made an immediate impact in college as he scored a touchdown as a freshman in a bowl game for Clemson.

In the pros, he made the All-Pro team four times as a defensive end with the Raiders, weighing in at well over 300 pounds.

He was a bit of a brute from high school through his pro days. In fact, he admitted to being a jerk sometimes. But he had turned his life around since playing his last game in 2003. First, he had surgery to lose 80 pounds. Then, he started taking Bible study classes. He liked teaching life principles to young players. Along with his wife Zina, he loved raising his two daughters.

Then all of a sudden today, he died. An autopsy is being performed to try to determine why.

John Forslund will be the Raleigh Sports Club guest speaker Wednesday. Forslund will give the attendees the inside scoop on the latest developments with the Carolina Hurricanes, including today’s coaching change.

In his 16th season as the Carolina Hurricanes’ Play-by-Play Announcer, Forslund provides all the exciting NHL action on TV broadcasts. Dakota Dukes, a basketball player at Cary Christian Academy, will be honored as the Student Athlete of the Week for academic, community and athletic excellence.

Buffet lines open at 11:30 a.m. The Forks Cafeteria will continue to cater a Southern Buffet. The meeting location will again be at Highland UMC at 1901 Ridge Road at the intersection of Lake Boone Trail, just inside the Beltline. Annual dues for the 2011-12 season will remain $60. Weekly attendance fee will remain $14 and applies whether the member plans to eat lunch or not. All guests fees will be $20 per guest. Pick sheets and door prizes will be held.

NEWS RELEASE – Jim Rutherford, President and General Manager of the National Hockey League’s Carolina Hurricanes, today announced that Kirk Muller has been named the team’s new head coach. Muller had been serving as the head coach of the Milwaukee Admirals of the American Hockey League. He will be introduced at a news conference later this afternoon. Details regarding the news conference will follow in a separate advisory.

“Kirk is a proven leader and motivator, and he has strong communication skills,” said Rutherford. “He was a captain and a Stanley Cup winner as a player, and did excellent work as a coach with the Canadiens and the Admirals. We feel confident that he is the right man to lead our team now and in the future.”

Muller, 45, becomes the 12th person to serve as head coach for the franchise, and the third to be head coach since the team relocated to North Carolina in 1997. The Kingston, Ont., native had a record of 10-6-0 with Milwaukee this season, after taking the job as head coach for the Nashville Predators’ top affiliate in July 2011. Prior to joining the Admirals, Muller spent five seasons as an assistant coach with the Montreal Canadiens, helping the Habs reach the playoffs four consecutive seasons. He also has experience as a head coach with the Queen’s University Golden Gaels, and an assistant for Team Canada in the 2005 Lotto Cup and the 2006 Under-18 World Championship. Current Hurricanes alternate captain Brandon Sutter was a member of that 2006 Under-18 World Championship team.

As a player, Muller totaled 357 goals and 602 assists (959 points) in 1,349 career NHL games over 19 seasons with the New Jersey Devils, Montreal Canadiens, New York Islanders, Toronto Maple Leafs, Florida Panthers and Dallas Stars. He skated in 127 career Stanley Cup playoff games, totaling 69 points (33g, 36a), including the Stanley Cup-clinching goal for the Canadiens in the 1993 Stanley Cup Final. He also reached the Final with Dallas in 2000, when the Stars fell to New Jersey.

A six-time NHL All-Star, Muller posted 30-or-more goals five times in his career, 20-or-more goals nine times, and had seven 70-point seasons. He established career highs with New Jersey in 1987-88 and Montreal in 1992-93, totaling 37 goals, 57 assists and 94 points in each of those seasons. Muller served as captain for both the Devils (1989-91) and the Canadiens (1994-95).

Prior to turning professional, Muller played junior hockey in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) for Kingston and Guelph, and represented Canada at the 1984 Olympic Games. He made his NHL debut for New Jersey straight out of junior hockey in 1984, after the Devils selected him second overall in the 1984 NHL Entry Draft, behind only Mario Lemieux. In addition to the 1984 Olympics, Muller also represented Canada at four World Championships (1985, 1986, 1987, 1989) and at the 1984 World Junior Championship.

JUST RELEASED BY THE HURRICANES: Jim Rutherford, President and General Manager of the National Hockey League’s Carolina Hurricanes, today announced that the team has relieved Paul Maurice of his duties as head coach. The team will announce a new head coach later today.

Maurice completes his second stint with the Hurricanes with a career NHL coaching record of 460-457-167. He served 920 games behind the bench for the Hurricanes organization, going 384-391-145.

The Carolina Hurricanes host the Florida Panthers on Tuesday at the RBC Center (7 p.m., FOX Sports Carolinas HD, Hurricane Radio Network). For information on 2011-12 Carolina Hurricanes ticket packages, please visit www.CarolinaHurricanes.com, or call 1-866-NHL-CANES.