RALEIGH, NC - Ron Francis, Executive Vice President and General Manager of the National Hockey League's Carolina Hurricanes, today announced that the team has activated forward Lee Stempniak from injured reserve and assigned him to the American Hockey League's (AHL) Charlotte Checkers for conditioning purposes.

Stempniak, 34, registered 40 points (16g, 24a) in 82 games with the Hurricanes last season. The West Seneca, NY, native ranked tied for fourth on the team in goals (16) in 2016-17 and was one of six Hurricanes skaters to appear in all 82 games. Stempniak has recorded 460 points (200g, 260a) in 872 career NHL games with St. Louis, Toronto, Arizona, Calgary, Pittsburgh, NY Rangers, Winnipeg, New Jersey, Boston and Carolina. He was drafted by St. Louis in the fifth round, 148th overall, in the 2003 NHL Draft and signed with the Hurricanes as a free agent on July 1, 2016. Stempniak has played in 26 career AHL games, recording 15 points (8g, 7a) for the Peoria Rivermen (AHL) during the 2005-06 season.

The Carolina Hurricanes begin their second back-to-back set of the season on Friday at Columbus (7 p.m., FOX Sports Carolinas, FOX Sports GO, Hurricanes Radio Network). The Hurricanes return to PNC Arena on Saturday to host the Chicago Blackhawks (7 p.m., FOX Sports Carolinas, FOX Sports GO, Hurricanes Radio Network). For information about Hurricanes ticket packages, please visit www.CarolinaHurricanes.com/tickets, or call 1-866-NHL-CANES (1-866-645-2263).