Two-time WHL Goalie of the Year to Rejoin Junior Team

	Cam Ward, the Hurricanes first-round pick in 2002, returned to juniors after a successful training camp for Carolina.

RALEIGH, N.C. (Oct. 1, 2003) – Jim Rutherford, President and General Manager of the Carolina Hurricanes, today announced that goaltender Cam Ward has been returned to Red Deer of the Western Hockey League. The move reduces the Hurricanes’ training camp roster to 26 players, three more than the Opening Night limit.

Ward, 19, was drafted by the Hurricanes in the first round, 25th overall, in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft. The Sherwood Park, Alb., native was named WHL Goalie of the Year for 2001-02 and 2002-03, and took Red Deer Rookie of the Year honors in 2001-02. His 2.10 goals-against average in 2001-02 and his 40 wins in 2002-03, topped the WHL. Ward (6’ 1”, 180 lbs.) started Carolina’s exhibition game at Atlanta on Sept. 23 and made 19 saves on 22 shots. Earlier in September, Ward backstopped the Hurricanes’ rookie team at the Ottawa Senators Prospects Tournament and recorded a 1-1-0 record and .912 save percentage in two games.

Carolina’s training camp continues Wednesday with a split-squad practice beginning at 10 a.m. at the RecZone. Group 1 will take the ice at 10 a.m. and Group 2 will skate beginning at 11:30 a.m. Following practices on Thursday at the RecZone and Friday at the RBC Center, the Hurricanes will begin a home-and-home, back-to-back set with Washington at MCI Center on Friday. The RecZone is located at 912 Hodges St. in Raleigh.

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. Ticket packages for the 2003-04 season are available by calling 1-888-NHL-TIX1. Individual game tickets for October and November games are available at the Dodge Box Office at the RBC Center, at all TicketMaster locations or by calling TicketMaster at 919-834-4000.