Former Wolf Pack center, Dwight Helminen will finally get a shot at the NHL according to a release issued by the Carolina Hurricanes President and General Manager, Jim Rutherford.
Helminen, who has been playing for the Albany River Rats, has been called up on an emergency basis due to the injury to Brandon Sutter from a hit by former NY Ranger Doug Weight.
"Dewey" as he is known to fans and teammates, is small in stature but plays bigger as he is not afraid to go into the corners or to stand up for his teammates on occasion and it made him popular in the Hartford Civic Center, as it was known at the time.
The Michigan native came to the NY Rangers from the Edmonton Oilers during the purge of 2004. As unpopular as some of the trades were that day, in particular the Brian Leetch move, Rangers President and General Manager Glen Sather's decisions that day are the primary reason for the resurgence of the franchise both in New York and in Hartford. Helminen came to the Rangers along with one-time Pack netminder and current Rangers backup Stephen Valiquette for Petr Nedved and Jussi Markkanen.
Helminen will make his NHL debut Tuesday night when the Carolina Hurricanes travel to Montreal to take on the Canadiens at the Bell Centre.
(Dwight Helminen photo courtesy of daylife.com)
