Roster finalized at 23 players heading into tonight’s preseason finale

RALEIGH, NC—Jim Rutherford, President and General Manager of the National Hockey League’s Carolina Hurricanes, today announced defensemen Casey Borer and Brett Carson have been assigned to Albany of the American Hockey League. The move trims the Hurricanes’ roster to the final 23 players heading into tonight’s preseason finale against the Columbus Blue Jackets at the RBC Center.

Borer, 22, had one goal and one assist (2 points) and was plus-3 in three preseason games with Carolina, including the game-winning goal in the team’s victory against Nashville on Sept. 21. The Minneapolis native was the Hurricanes third pick in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft and is currently in his first full professional season after completing a four-year career at St. Cloud State of the WCHA.

Carson, 21, skated in four preseason games for the Hurricanes. The Regina, Sask., native completed his first professional season in 2006-07, totaling two goals and 16 assists (18 points) in 63 games. The Hurricanes fourth-round selection in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft, Carson also skated in three games with Florida of the ECHL last season, notching two points (1g, 1a).

The Hurricanes conclude their preseason schedule when they take on Columbus tonight at 7 p.m. at the RBC Center. The Albany River Rats, Carolina’s top minor-league affiliate, open their preseason schedule tonight against the Syracuse Crunch at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute’s Houston Field House in Troy, NY.