RALEIGH, NC—Jason Karmanos, Vice President and Assistant General Manager of the National Hockey League’s Carolina Hurricanes, today announced that the team has agreed to terms with center/right wing Zac Dalpe (DAL-pee) to a three-year, entry-level contract. At the NHL level, Dalpe will be paid $550,000 in 2010-11, $600,000 in 2011-12 and $700,000 in 2012-13, and at the American Hockey League (AHL) level, he will be paid $65,000 per year. He also receives a signing bonus of $262,500. Dalpe will join the Hurricanes’ AHL affiliate Albany River Rats on an amateur tryout contract for the remainder of this season.

Dalpe, 20, recently completed his sophomore season at Ohio State, where he led the Buckeyes in goals (21), points (45), and power-play goals (8), and ranked second in assists (24), while playing in all 39 of the team’s games. At the completion of Ohio State’s season, the Paris, Ont., native’s 21 goals ranked first among Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) skaters, and his 45 points ranked second in the conference. On March 10, it was announced that Dalpe (6’1”, 195 lbs.) had been named to the 2009-10 All-CCHA First Team, as voted by the conference’s coaches. He was named to the CCHA All-Rookie Team and was a Top-3 finalist for CCHA Rookie of the Year following the 2008-09 season. The Hurricanes drafted Dalpe in the second round, 45th overall, in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft.