The Carolina Hurricanes, parent club of the AHL’s Albany River Rats, today announced that the team has agreed to terms with defenseman Jay Harrison on a one-year, two-way contract.
“Jay is a big defenseman who has been a depth player in the Toronto system since turning professional,” said Jason Karmanos, Carolina’s Vice President and Assistant General Manager. “His size and experience should allow him to compete for a roster spot with the Hurricanes next season.”
Harrison, 26, split 2008-09 between Zug of the Swiss National League and the Toronto Maple Leafs. With Zug, Harrison (6’4”, 211 lbs.) scored six goals, added nine assists (15 points) and collected 96 penalty minutes in 41 regular-season games. The Oshawa, Ont., native signed with Toronto on March 27 after Zug’s season ended, and played in seven games with the Maple Leafs, earning one assist and totaling 10 penalty minutes.
The Maple Leafs drafted Harrison in the in the third round, 82nd overall, in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft, and he turned professional at the end of the 2001-02 season. In 376 career regular-season games with Toronto’s AHL affiliates in St. John’s and Toronto, Harrison scored 32 goals, earned 66 assists (98 points) and accumulated 564 penalty minutes. In 20 career NHL games with the Maple Leafs, he earned two assists and totaled 18 penalty minutes.
River Rats 2009-10 season and flex ticket packages are now on sale at the River Rats executive offices at the Times Union Center, by calling (518) 487-2244 or by logging onto www.albanyriverrats.com.
