Ryan Bayda Reassigned to Lock Monsters

RALEIGH, N.C. (Jan. 13, 2004) – Jim Rutherford, President and General Manager of the Carolina Hurricanes, today announced that right wing Pavel Brendl has been recalled from Lowell of the American Hockey League. Left wing Ryan Bayda has been reassigned to the Lock Monsters.

Brendl (6’ 1’’, 204 lbs.) is Lowell’s leading scorer this season with 33 points (17g, 16a) in 33 games. He currently ranks tied for sixth in the AHL in goals and 12th in the league in points. A native of Opocno in the Czech Republic, Brendl has been selected to represent PlanetUSA in the AHL All-Star Game on Feb. 9. Brendl, 22, was acquired by the Hurricanes along with Bruno St. Jacques on Feb. 7, 2003 in exchange for Sami Kapanen and Ryan Bast. A first round selection (fourth overall) of the NY Rangers in the 1999 NHL Entry Draft, Brendl has played in 58 career NHL games, registering 14 points (6g, 8a). He earned one assist in eight games with Carolina last season before undergoing arthroscopic surgery on Feb. 25 to repair torn cartilage in his right knee.

Bayda, 23, has played in 31 games with Carolina this season, totaling three points (2g, 1a). He was recalled by the Hurricanes on Oct. 23, four days after being named the AHL’s Player of the Week on Oct. 19. At the time of his recall, Bayda led the Lock Monsters in scoring with six points (4g, 2a) in four games. Bayda was drafted by the Hurricanes in the third round, 80th overall, in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft.

The Hurricanes begin an important stretch with three consecutive games against Southeast Division rivals beginning Thursday at Tampa Bay (7 p.m., Fox Sports Net). Carolina takes on the Atlanta Thrashers at Philips Arena on Friday night (7:30 p.m., Fox Sports Net) before returning home to take on the Thrashers at the RBC Center on Sunday at 1:30 p.m. Tickets for Sunday’s game and all January and February home games are available at the Dodge Box Office at the RBC Center, at all TicketMaster locations or by calling TicketMaster at 919-834-4000.