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The Carolina Hurricanes just announced that Tuomo Ruutu and Andrej Sekera have both been selected to represent their respective countries in the Sochi Olympics. Ruutu will be on Team Finland while Sekera joins Team Slovakia.
In other news, none of the Hurricanes were selected for Team Canada, including Eric Staal, who won Olympic gold in Vancouver in 2010, and who suffered a knee injury playing for Canada in the World Championships last year.
Check out who made Team Canada at this link. (TSN)
The Hurricanes release follows:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Jan. 7, 2014
RUUTU, SEKERA NAMED TO OLYMPIC SQUADS
Three Hurricanes will represent countries in Sochi
RALEIGH, NC – Tuomo Ruutu (Finland) and Andrej Sekera (Slovakia) were today named to the rosters for their respective countries for the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia. USA Hockey named Hurricanes defenseman Justin Faulk to its squad on Jan. 1, so three Hurricanes players will compete in the tournament, which begins Feb. 12.
Ruutu, 30, has scored four goals and added eight assists (12 points) in 38 games for the Hurricanes this season. The Vantaa, Finland, native has represented his country in 10 major international tournaments, earning medals in all 10. He won bronze with Finland at the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver, and scored six goals to lead Finland to the gold medal at the 2011 International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) World Championship.
Andrej Sekera, 27, leads Hurricanes defensemen and ranks tied for seventh among NHL blueliners in goals (7). The Bojnice, Slovakia, native also leads Carolina defensemen and is tied for 15th among league defensemen in points (24). Sekera has represented Slovakia in a number of international tournaments, including the 2010 Winter Olympics and the 2008, 2009 and 2010 IIHF World Championships.
The Hurricanes take on the Buffalo Sabres tonight at 7 p.m. at First Niagara Center (FOX Sports Carolinas, Hurricanes Radio Network). The team returns home after the game, and hosts the Toronto Maple Leafs at PNC Arena on Thursday. Individual-game tickets for all Hurricanes regular-season games are on sale at the PNC Arena Box Office and via Ticketmaster. For information on Hurricanes ticket packages, please call 1-866-NHL-CANES, or visit www.CarolinaHurricanes.com.