Center Entering Fourth NHL Season

	Center Josef Vasicek will look to bounce back from a season that saw him miss 25 games with a back problem. > Vasicek Bio

RALEIGH, N.C. (Sept. 3, 2003) – Jim Rutherford, President / General Manager of the Carolina Hurricanes, today announced that the team has agreed to terms with center Josef Vasicek on a one-year contract. As per club policy, terms of the deal were not announced.

“This is the final piece in place to prepare for a training camp without distractions,” said Rutherford. “We feel a healthy Joe will be a better player with more production.”

Vasicek (6’ 5”, 210 lbs.) had 10 goals, 10 assists (20 points) and 33 penalty minutes in 57 games last season. He missed 25 games during 2002-03 due to a back injury, including a 21-game stretch, Oct. 22-Dec. 4. In three seasons with the Hurricanes, Vasicek has played 211 regular-season games and has notched 32 goals and 40 assists (72 points) while accumulating 139 penalty minutes. In 29 NHL playoff games, the 22-year old has scored five goals and earned two assists (7 points). The Hurricanes selected the Havlickuv Brod, Czech Republic native in the fourth round, 91st overall, in the 1998 NHL Entry Draft.

In April, Vasicek represented his native Czech Republic at the 2003 International Ice Hockey Federation World Championships in Finland. Vasicek posted two assists, two penalty minutes and a 56 percent face-off percentage in nine games for the fourth-place Czech team.

The Hurricanes open their seventh season in North Carolina on Oct. 9 at Florida, before returning to the RBC Center for their home opener, Saturday, Oct. 11 against defending Stanley Cup champion New Jersey.