NETMINDER WAS TAKEN 14TH OVERALL IN THE 1998 NHL DRAFT

RALEIGH, N.C. (Dec. 31, 2002) – Jim Rutherford, President and General Manager for the Eastern Conference champion Carolina Hurricanes announced today that the team has acquired goaltender Patrick DesRochers (PAT-rihk duh-RAWSH-ay) from the Phoenix Coyotes in exchange for goaltender Jean-Marc Pelletier and a conditional draft pick. DesRochers will report to the Hurricanes’ American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate in Lowell, Mass.

DesRochers (6’4’’, 205 lbs.) has played in nine career NHL games for Phoenix and has a career record of 1-5-1 with a goals against average of 3.73. He has played four games with the Coyotes this season and is 0-3-0 with a goals against average of 3.77, including a 3-2 loss against the Hurricanes at the RBC Center on Nov. 12 in which he stopped 25 of 28 Carolina shots. DesRochers, 23, has played eight games with Springfield of the AHL this season, registering a goals against average of 2.64 and a record of 2-4-1. The Penetanguishene, Ont., native has a career record of 52-63-14 in the AHL with a goals against average of 3.12. Phoenix originally chose DesRochers in the first-round (14th overall) in the 1998 NHL Entry Draft.

Pelletier was 6-10-0 with a goals against average of 3.55 with Lowell of the AHL this season. He was acquired by Carolina on Jan. 23, 2000 along with Rod Brind’Amour and a second round draft pick in 2000 for Keith Primeau and a fifth round draft pick in 2000. He has played one NHL game in his career, when he was still a member of the Philadelphia Flyers. Pelletier is 66-48-8 with a goals against average of 2.75 (7,179 min., 329 GA) in 128 career AHL games.