RALEIGH, NC – Peter Karmanos Jr., Chief Executive Officer, Owner and Governor for the National Hockey League’s Carolina Hurricanes, today announced that the team has signed Executive Vice President and General Manager Ron Francis to a contract extension through the 2018-19 season. Francis will be available to discuss the extension today at 3 p.m. in the fourth-floor conference room at PNC Arena.

“Ron has rebuilt our organization the right way, stocking our team and system with young players who will help this franchise compete for the Stanley Cup year in and year out,” said Karmanos. “I’m thrilled that he will continue to see the job through. The future is very bright for the Hurricanes in Carolina.”

Francis, 53, is in his 11th season in management with the Hurricanes and his third as general manager. Under his leadership, the Hurricanes improved 15 points in the NHL standings in 2015-16, despite utilizing the youngest group of forwards and the youngest corps of defensemen in the NHL. Francis has added young talent to the organization including Noah Hanifin, Teuvo Teravainen, Sebastian Aho, Haydn Fleury, Jake Bean and Julien Gauthier. The Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., native previously worked for the team as director of player development, assistant general manager, associate head coach and director of hockey operations.

A member of the Hockey Hall of Fame, Francis scored 549 goals and earned 1,249 assists (1,798 points) as a player, ranking fifth all-time on the league’s scoring list behind Wayne Gretzky, Mark Messier, Jaromir Jagr and Gordie Howe. His 1,249 assists rank second only to Gretzky (1,963), and he ranks third on the games-played list behind Howe (1,767) and Messier (1,756).