CONGRATULATIONS TO A GREAT GUY!

We’ve had the good pleasure of speaking and working with Michael Kahn, the owner of the Charlotte Checkers, who today became a part-owner of the Carolina Hurricanes.

Mr. Kahn is just an absolute pleasure to deal with and one of the smartest people we’ve ever had the good pleasure to deal with in hockey. I know this was something that was a goal for him and something he really wanted so we wish him all the best.

Here’s the official release:

HURRICANES ANNOUNCE KAHN AS OWNERSHIP PARTNER

Charlotte Checkers owner becomes an investor in Carolina Hurricanes

RALEIGH, NC – Peter Karmanos Jr., Chief Executive Officer, Owner and Governor of the National Hockey League’s Carolina Hurricanes, today announced Michael Kahn as a partner in the ownership of the Hurricanes. Kahn is the Owner and Governor of Carolina’s American Hockey League affiliate, the Charlotte Checkers.

“Both organizations, the Hurricanes and the Checkers, are heavily committed to the growth of hockey in the Carolinas,” Kahn said. “Investing in the Hurricanes not only solidifies my support for Mr. Karmanos and his vision for the sport in the South, but also my support and belief in the growth of the game. The Hurricanes are a top notch organization led by Mr. Karmanos and Mr. Rutherford and I am extremely excited to have been afforded the opportunity to join them. I believe both organizations have very bright futures and I look forward to what is on the horizon for the Hurricanes, Checkers and the sport of hockey itself.”

Born and raised in Atlanta, Kahn has been involved in a family-owned wine and spirits business all of his life. He is the chief operating officer of Empire Distributors Inc., originally founded by his grandfather in 1940. Kahn, who has been nominated as Outstanding Philanthropist of the Year, currently resides in Charlotte with his wife, Wendy, and three sons.

The Carolina Hurricanes today travel to Buffalo, where they will take on the Sabres on Friday (7:30 p.m., FOX Sports Carolinas, Hurricanes Radio Network) in the first game of a four-game road stretch. The team’s next home game is on Oct. 25, when Carolina hosts the Ottawa Senators at the RBC Center. For information on 2011-12 Carolina Hurricanes ticket packages, please visit www.CarolinaHurricanes.com, or call 1-866-NHL-CANES.