RALEIGH, NC – Ron Francis, Director of Hockey Operations for the National Hockey League’s Carolina Hurricanes, announced today that the Hurricanes will participate in the 2011 NHL Prospects Tournament from Sept. 10-14, in Traverse City, MI. This marks Carolina’s third appearance at the annual tournament, hosted by the Detroit Red Wings. The Hurricanes’ squad won the tournament in 2009. Click here to view the team's roster.

Jeff Daniels, head coach and general manager of Carolina’s American Hockey League affiliate, the Charlotte Checkers, will coach the Hurricanes’ team in the tournament along with Charlotte assistant coach Geordie Kinnear. Teams will be comprised of drafted players and signees from each of the eight participating NHL clubs, as well as amateur tryout invitees. A limited number of players with prior professional experience, but in no case more than one full season, are eligible to compete.

The Hurricanes’ squad for the 2011 tournament is comprised 14 players drafted by Carolina, including the team’s entire six-player 2011 draft class. Returning from the 2010 tournament team are defensemen Austin Levi, Rasmus Rissanen and Tyler Stahl, as well as forwards Justin Shugg and Jared Staal. The tournament will mark the first game action in a Hurricanes uniform for 2010 second-round pick Justin Faulk, 2009 third-round pick Mattias Lindstrom and 2006 seventh-round pick Justin Krueger. Seven tryout invitees will round out Carolina’s tournament squad.

The Hurricanes will open tournament play on Saturday, Sept. 10, against the Dallas Stars at 4 p.m. Carolina then will take on the St. Louis Blues on Sunday, Sept. 11, at 3 p.m., before finishing round-robin play against the New York Rangers on Tuesday, Sept. 13, at 3:30 p.m. Once the eight teams have finished round-robin play in two groups, each team will play a final game on Wednesday, Sept. 14, to determine final tournament ranking, with the championship game taking place at 7 p.m. All games will take place at Centre Ice Arena, the training camp home of the Red Wings. Please visit http://www.centreice.org/ProspectTournament.htm for more information on the 2011 NHL Prospects Tournament.