Though I already announced it on Twitter this morning, I figured it deserved more than I could give it in 140-character bursts:

Paul Branecky

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Starting Monday, I’ll be leaving the Hurricanes to join our American Hockey League affiliate, the Charlotte Checkers. Though I’ll be busy with some added responsibilities on the marketing side, I hope to generate the same level of hockey coverage on gocheckers.com that I’ve provided in this space for the last five years in my current role.

It’s been a crazy few weeks, but I am very excited about new opportunities in Charlotte. I already know the area well, having graduated from South Mecklenburg High School several years ago, and will have plenty of family members nearby. I even got my start as a professional with the Checkers, having worked as an intern in the summer of 2005 prior to doing the same with the Hurricanes during the 2005-06 season.

That being said, saying goodbye these last few days has been very tough. Having moved around every few years growing up, the nine years I spent in the Triangle dating back to my freshman year at UNC has been by far the longest time I’ve ever spent in one place. Though I’ll be returning to my North Carolina roots next week, this is home as much as anywhere else.

Working with the Hurricanes has been an incredibly rewarding experience, starting with the Stanley Cup championship in my first year to the most recent season, which had a tough ending but will definitely rank among the most memorable thanks to the European Premiere, the All-Star Game and the emergence of a star in Jeff Skinner.

A sincere thanks to all of you for your support and for making it fun along the way, especially with the additions of our social media properties over the last few seasons. I've enjoyed interacting with you on Twitter, podcasts, etc., ever since the launch of the Tracking the Storm blog a few years back. Without your readership and interest, none of that would have been possible.

Since I’ll be staying in the family, I hope to continue seeing most of you around my new gig. It’s an exciting time for the organization in terms of its prospects, and I look forward to giving those of you who followed me with the Hurricanes a better look at what’s coming your way in the future.