Prospect will complete season with Lowell in American Hockey League

RALEIGH, N.C. – Jason Karmanos, Vice President and Assistant General Manager of the Carolina Hurricanes, announced today that the team has agreed to terms with defenseman Brad Fast to a two-year contract. Fast, who recently completed his senior season at Michigan State, will complete this season with the Hurricanes’ American Hockey affiliate in Lowell, Mass. His two-year contract with the Hurricanes will begin in the 2003-04 season.

“Brad had a very successful collegiate career,” said Karmanos. “With his offensive ability, he is a prospect who could play either forward or defense at the NHL level.”

Fast (6’ 0’’, 190 lbs.) tallied 46 points (11g, 35a) in 39 games during his senior season with the Spartans and had 114 points (30g, 84a) in 163 career games with Michigan State. The Fort. St. John, Sask., native was named the Central Collegiate Hockey Association’s Defensive-Defenseman of the Year for 2002-03, averaging nearly 30 minutes of ice time per game and registering a plus-minus of +23. He ranked second in scoring for Michigan State behind Hobey Baker finalist John-Michael Liles and was an all-CCHA first team selection. Fast, who served as captain for Michigan State this season, was selected by the Hurricanes in the third round (84th overall) in the 1999 NHL Entry Draft.

The Hurricanes host the Toronto Maple Leafs on Tuesday, March 25 at 7 p.m. at the RBC Center. Tickets for that game and all Hurricanes games are available via the team’s official website, CarolinaHurricanes.com, the Dodge Box Office at RBC Center or by calling 919-834-4000.