RALEIGH, NC—Jim Rutherford, President and General Manager of the National Hockey League’s Carolina Hurricanes, today announced that the team has hired Bob Luccini and Phil Horner as amateur scouts. Rutherford has also announced that Kelly Kirwin’s position has changed to Executive Assistant to the President and General Manager.

Luccini is originally from Franklin, Mass., where he coached high school hockey for 25 years and was elected to the Massachusetts High School Coaches Hall of Fame. At Franklin High School, he won 12 league championships, and coached future Hurricanes Head Coach Peter Laviolette as a player from 1979-1982. During Laviolette’s senior season, Franklin advanced to the final game of the state championships before falling. The following year, Franklin again returned to the title game, capturing the state championship. Following his coaching career, Luccini worked as a scouting and coaching assistant with Providence of the American Hockey League (AHL). He has been a member of the Hurricanes’ part-time scouting staff for the past two seasons, and his primary focus as a full-time scout will be college and high school hockey in the United States, as well as the U.S. junior leagues.

Horner is originally from Orangeville, Ont., where he played junior hockey. He began his professional scouting career with the Guelph Storm of the Ontario Hockey League in 1992, when current Carolina Director of Amateur Scouting Tony MacDonald was serving as the team’s Assosicate Coach and General Manager Advisor. Horner spent 11 years with the Storm, helping the scouting staff contribute to Guelph’s on-ice success as the Storm made three Memorial Cup appearances. After spending one season with Toronto-St. Michael’s, Horner joined the scouting staff of the Sarnia Sting, where he has spent the past three seasons. With the Hurricanes, Horner will travel throughout North America, focusing on junior and college hockey.

Kirwin, who is in her eighth year with the Hurricanes, assists the General Manager and Assistant General Manager in all of the hockey department’s daily operations, including contracts, transfers, trades and immigration. She also coordinates the team’s scouting staff and individual travel and organizes staff events including the annual scouting meetings, All-Star Game and Entry Draft. Originally from Grand Rapids, Minn., Kirwin attended Wake Forest University on a golf scholarship, graduating in 2000.

The Carolina Hurricanes open their preseason schedule on Sunday, Sept. 16 against the Washington Capitals at 3 p.m. The game is free to all fans as part of the annual Caniac Carnival. The Hurricanes begin their 10th Anniversary regular season on Wednesday, Oct. 3 at the RBC Center against the Montreal Canadiens. For information on Hurricanes ticket packages, please call 1-866-NHL-CANES or visit www.CarolinaHurricanes.com.