RALEIGH, NC – Jason Karmanos, Vice President and Assistant General Manager of the National Hockey League’s Carolina Hurricanes, today announced that the team has signed defenseman Tommi Kivisto (TAW-mee K’VIHS-toh) and forward Mattias Lindstrom (ma-TEE-uhs LIHND-struhm) to three-year entry-level contracts.

Kivisto, 19, completed his second season with Jokerit Helsinki in Finland’s top professional league, SM-liiga, in 2010-11. The Vantaa, Finland, native totaled five assists and a plus-4 rating in 38 games played, and was the youngest defenseman to skate for Jokerit last season. In two seasons in SM-liiga, Kivisto (6’1”, 195 lbs.) has totaled seven points (0g, 7a) and 34 penalty minutes in 60 games played. Prior to turning professional in Finland, he also played one season with Red Deer of the Western Hockey League (WHL), earning one goal and 21 assists (22 points) in 65 games as a 17-year-old. Carolina’s seventh-round selection (208th overall) in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft, Kivisto has represented Finland at the World Junior Championship three consecutive years, as well as at the 2008 U-18 World Junior Championship.

Kivisto’s deal will pay him $525,000 at the NHL level and $55,000 at the American Hockey League (AHL) level for all three seasons of the contract, and includes a $120,000 signing bonus. Kivisto’s contract includes a European Assignment Clause, which will allow him to play the 2011-12 season for Jokerit prior to starting his North American professional career in 2012-13.

Lindstrom, 20, completed his second season in the Swedish Elite League in 2010-11, appearing in 11 games for Skelleftea and totaling eight penalty minutes. The Lulea, Sweden, native also skated in nine playoff games for Skelleftea, and played 18 games with Skelleftea’s junior squad, totaling two goals, four assists (6 points) and 26 penalty minutes. In two seasons on Sweden’s top level, Lindstrom (6’4”, 205 lbs.) has scored one goal in 18 regular season games and one goal in 16 playoff games for Skelleftea. Carolina’s third-round selection (88th overall) in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft, Lindstrom missed the majority of the 2009-10 season with a knee injury.

Lindstrom’s contract will pay him $525,000 at the NHL level or $50,000 at the AHL level in 2011-12, $525,000 at the NHL level or $55,000 at the AHL level in 2012-12, and $550,000 at the NHL level or $60,000 at the AHL level in 2013-14. It also includes a $120,000 signing bonus. Lindstrom’s contract also contains a European Assignment Clause, which allows him to be assigned to Skelleftea of the Swedish Elite League. He will participate in the Hurricanes conditioning camp in July, as well as the rookie tournament in Traverse City. Should he not make Carolina’s opening-night roster, he will be assigned to Skelleftea, where he is under contract for one more season, rather than reporting to Charlotte of the AHL, as per the transfer agreement between the Swedish Ice Hockey Association and the NHL.