Malec to Play in AHL All-Star Game

RALEIGH, N.C. – Jim Rutherford, President and General Manager of the defending Eastern Conference champion Carolina Hurricanes, announced today that defensemen Steve Halko and Tomas Malec have been reassigned to Lowell of the American Hockey League (AHL). Malec will take part in the AHL All-Star game on Monday in Portland, Maine.

Halko, 28, has played in six games for Carolina this season in three separate recall stints from Lowell. In 45 games with the Lock Monsters this season, Halko has three goals, 14 assists and 26 penalty minutes. His 17 points rank him tied for first among Lowell defenseman. Halko (6’ 1’’, 200 lbs.) was the organization’s 10th-round draft pick, 225th overall, in 1992. Halko is in his sixth NHL season and sixth with Carolina. In 155 National Hockey League games, he has registered 15 assists and 71 penalty minutes.

The Hurricanes recalled Malec, 20, from Lowell last Friday and he played in three games in his most recent NHL stint. The 6’ 2”, 193-pound, Skalica, Slovakia, native has recorded two assists, 24 penalty minutes and 13:10 average time on ice in 16 games with Carolina this season. In 28 games with Lowell, Malec has earned four assists. He was named to the PlanetUSA All-Star team for the AHL All-Star Classic, Feb. 3 in Portland, Maine.

Carolina acquired Malec from Florida along with Bret Hedican and Kevyn Adams on Jan. 16, 2002. The Panthers selected Malec in the third round, 64th overall, of the 2001 NHL Entry Draft.

The NHL All-Star game will take place Sunday in Sunrise, Fla. (2:30 p.m., ABC). Hurricanes right wing Jeff O’Neill will play for the Eastern Conference squad in his first NHL All-Star game. Following the All-Star break, the Hurricanes will embark on a four-game road swing that takes them to San Jose, Los Angeles, Anaheim and Dallas. The Hurricanes return to RBC Center on Feb. 14 to face the Washington Capitals at 7 p.m. Tickets for that game and all Hurricanes home games are available via the team’s official website CarolinaHurricanes.com, the Dodge Box Office at RBC Center or by calling 919.834.4000.