RALEIGH, NC—Jim Rutherford, President and General Manager of the National Hockey League’s Carolina Hurricanes, today at a news conference in Charlotte, announced that the Hurricanes’ American Hockey League (AHL) prospects will begin play in Charlotte in 2010-11.

“We are very pleased that Charlotte will be the new home for the Carolina Hurricanes’ top prospects,” said Rutherford. “The city has a proud hockey heritage spanning more than five decades, and we are excited that the Hurricanes will be a part of the new era of hockey in Charlotte.”

Michael Kahn, owner of the ECHL’s Charlotte Checkers, has purchased the Albany River Rats AHL franchise, and at today’s news conference announced a multi-year affiliation agreement with the Hurricanes.

“I am extremely excited to bring AHL hockey to Charlotte,” said Kahn. “The city of Charlotte has experienced tremendous growth in recent years and with that comes expectations of a higher level of professional sports, hockey notwithstanding. Fans will now be able to watch a player in Charlotte one night and with the Hurricanes the next. Hockey is and will remain an important component of the Charlotte sports landscape and the Checkers will continue to be the best family sports entertainment value in town.”

The Hurricanes will join just three other U.S.-based NHL teams – Detroit, Chicago and Dallas – whose AHL affiliates are located less than 200 miles away and in the same state.

A separate announcement concerning other details of the Hurricanes’ and Checkers’ affiliation will be made in the coming weeks.