Hill joins team in Tampa, expected to play Saturday

RALEIGH, N.C. (Oct. 31, 2003) – Jim Rutherford, President and General Manager of the Carolina Hurricanes, today announced that defenseman Allan Rourke has been assigned to Lowell of the American Hockey League. Sean Hill, who has missed the last two games with a groin injury, is expected to return to action Saturday night at Tampa Bay.

Rourke (6’ 2”, 215 lbs.) made his NHL debut against San Jose on Tuesday, registering 11:36 on the ice in a 3-0 Hurricanes win. He leads all Lock Monsters defensemen in scoring this season with five points (3g, 2a) in seven games. Rourke was acquired by Carolina on May 29 in exchange for Harold Druken and Jeff Daw. A native of Mississauga, Ont., he was originally selected by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the sixth round, 154th overall, of the 1998 NHL Entry Draft. Rourke, 23, notched 31 points (12g, 19a) in 65 games with St. John’s of the AHL last season.

The Hurricanes take on the unbeaten Tampa Bay Lightning at the St. Pete Times Forum on Saturday night at 7:30 (Fox Sports Net, Hurricanes Radio Network). Carolina hosts the Toronto Maple Leafs at 6 p.m. on Sunday at the RBC Center. 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.