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Hurricanes Sign Flurry of Players

July 20, 2006 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Albany River Rats News Release


Albany N.Y. - The Albany River Rats are proud to announce recent signings by their National Hockey League affiliate, the Carolina Hurricanes. The Hurricanes reached agreements with forwards Keith Aucoin and Dave Gove, goaltender Craig Kowalski and defenseman Derrick Walser. Carolina's developmental partner the Colorado Avalanche, also recently announced deals with forwards Ben Guite, Troy native Matt Murley, and defenseman Jeff Finger.

Aucoin, 27, was a 2006 AHL All-Star with Carolina's previous affiliate in Lowell, leading the team in goals (29), assists (56) and points (85) during the 2005-06 season. Those totals placed him eighth in the league assists and 10th in scoring. He made his NHL debut on January 23rd against Montreal and had one assist in seven games with Carolina. The Waltham, Mass. native has played five AHL seasons with Lowell, Providence and Cincinnati, scoring 99 goals with 190 assists for 289 points in 332 regular-season games.

Gove, 28, ranked second on the Lock Monsters with 46 points (20 goals, 26 assists) last year. The Centerville, Mass., native made his NHL debut with Carolina on January 31st at Montreal where earned his first NHL point with an assist. In 299 career regular-season AHL games, Gove has scored 64 goals with 90 assists for 154 points with Grand Rapids, San Antonio, Utah, Providence and Lowell.

Kowalski, 25, split the 2005-06 campaign between Carolina's ECHL affiliate, the Florida Everblades and the Lock Monsters, going a combined 18-17-3 with a 3.09 goals-against average and a .910 save percentage. He joined the Hurricanes as the team's practice and emergency goaltender as Carolina captured its first Stanley Cup championship. Carolina selected Kowalski with their seventh pick (235th overall) in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft.

Walser, 28, spent the last two years playing in the German Deutsche Elite League with Eisbaren Berlin, where he led all skaters with 19 goals and helped them win their second consecutive league title in 2005-06. Walser has played 279 regular-season AHL games with Saint John and Syracuse, winning the 2001 Calder Cup championship with the Flames.

The Albany River Rats, set to begin their 14th season as a member of the American Hockey League in October, are owned and operated by Capital District Sports Inc., and now serve as the primary affiliate of the Stanley Cup Champion Carolina Hurricanes.



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