HALKO LEADS ALL LOWELL DEFENSEMEN IN SCORING

RALEIGH, N.C. (Jan. 2, 2003) – Jim Rutherford, President and General Manager of the 2002 Eastern Conference champion Carolina Hurricanes, announced today that the team has recalled defenseman Steve Halko from Lowell of the American Hockey League (AHL). Hurricanes defenseman David Tanabe suffered a bruised shoulder against the New York Rangers on Dec. 31 and is out at least one week. Halko will be available for Friday’s game at Buffalo.

Halko, who signed with the Hurricanes as a free agent on Aug. 5, leads all Lock Monsters defensemen with 16 points (3g, 13a) in 37 games for Lowell this season. Originally drafted by the Hurricanes organization, Carolina traded Halko and a fourth round pick in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft to the St. Louis Blues on Dec. 5, 2001 for defenseman Sean Hill. St. Louis bought out Halko’s contract after last season, and the 28-year-old became a free agent.

Halko (6’1’’, 200 lbs.) was the organization’s 10th-round draft pick (225th overall) in 1992. He played in five games with Carolina last season, registering one assist. After his trade to St. Louis, the Blues assigned Halko to the Worcester IceCats of the American Hockey League for conditioning. In 43 games for the IceCats, Halko had eight points (3g, 5a) and 15 penalty minutes. He had one assist in three playoff games for Worcester.

Halko has totaled 15 points (0g, 15a) and 71 penalty minutes in 149 games over five NHL seasons with Carolina. He has 59 points (10g, 49a) and 174 penalty minutes in 257 career AHL games.