Winger Picked to Represent Eastern Conference

	Right wing Jeff O'Neill was named to his first NHL All-Star team on Thursday, where he will represent the Hurricanes and the Eastern Conference.

RALEIGH, N.C. – The National Hockey League announced today that Carolina Hurricanes right wing Jeff O’Neill has been selected to represent the Eastern Conference at the 2003 NHL All-Star Game in Sunrise, Fla. on Feb. 2. It marks O’Neill’s first trip to the All-Star Game in his eight-year NHL career.

O’Neill leads all Hurricanes scorers this season with 18 goals and ranks second on the team with 35 points and 17 assists. Through games of Jan. 15, O’Neill ranked 11th in the NHL in face-off percentage (56.9%) and tied for fifth in game-winning goals (6).

“Jeff is an important part of our team,” said Hurricanes President and General Manager Jim Rutherford. “He is very deserving of this honor.”

O’Neill, 26, was selected by the Hurricanes in the first round, fifth overall, in the 1994 NHL Entry Draft. The Richmond Hill, Ont. native is seventh in franchise history in goals (172) and fifth in games played (569) and has led the Hurricanes in goal scoring the past three seasons including a 41-goal campaign in 2000-01. O’Neill ranks eighth in franchise history with 356 points, 184 assists and 55 power-play goals.

The Hurricanes play the final game of a four-game home stand at RBC Center on Friday against New Jersey at 7 p.m. Tickets for Friday’s game and all Hurricanes games are available at the Dodge Box Office at RBC Center, by calling 919-834-4000 or by clicking here.