FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE-Dec. 11, 2007

STEFAN, BARRASSO ASSUME NEW COACHING ROLES

Stefan to coach OHL's Plymouth Whalers; Barrasso to join team full time as goaltending coach

RALEIGH, NC- Jim Rutherford, President and General Manager of the National Hockey League's Carolina Hurricanes, today announced that Greg Stefan will become the head coach of the Ontario Hockey League's Plymouth Whalers, while Tom Barrasso will join the Hurricanes full time as the team's goaltending coach.

Stefan re-joins the Plymouth Whalers after more than two seasons with the Hurricanes, first as Goaltending Coach/Pro Scout, and more recently as Assistant Coach/Goaltending Coach. Stefan began his coaching career in 1993 with the Detroit Junior Red Wings, who later became the Plymouth Whalers. He served as an assistant coach until 1998, and re-joined the Whalers as director of player development and assistant coach in 2003. The Plymouth Whalers are one of Carolina Hurricanes owner Peter Karmanos Jr.'s three hockey teams, which also include the Florida Everblades of the ECHL.

Barrasso joins the Hurricanes full-time as the team's goaltending coach and will continue to serve in his role as director of goalie development which he has held since September 2007. An 18-year NHL veteran, Barrasso won consecutive Stanley Cups with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 1991 and 1992, and ranks 13th in all-time regular-season wins (369). The Boston native won the Calder Trophy (rookie of the year) and Vezina Trophy (top netminder) following his rookie season with Buffalo in 1983-84, and represented the United States throughout his career in various international competitions, including the 2002 Winter Olympic Games while he was playing for the Hurricanes.

The Hurricanes begin a two-game home stand Wednesday at the RBC Center against the Ottawa Senators (7:30 p.m., FSN South, Hurricanes Radio Network). The Calgary Flames will visit Raleigh on Friday (7 p.m., Hurricanes Radio Network) before the Hurricanes take to the road for a Saturday evening match up at Wachovia Center against the Philadelphia Flyers (7 p.m., FSN South, Hurricanes Radio Network). Tickets for all Hurricanes home games in December and January are available at the Time Warner Cable Box Office at the RBC Center, all Ticketmaster locations, by calling 919-834-4000 or via www.CarolinaHurricanes.com. For information on ticket packages, please call 1-866-NHL-CANES or visit www.CarolinaHurricanes.com.

www.CarolinaHurricanes.com

CAROLINA HURRICANES: RBC Center * 1400 Edwards Mill Rd. * Raleigh, NC  27607 * 919-467-7825

MEDIA CONTACTS: Mike Sundheim, Director of Media Relations, 919-861-5477, mikes@carolinahurricanes.com

Kyle Hanlin, Manager of Media Relations/Broadcast Coordinator, 919-861-5429, kyleh@carolinahurricanes.com