Carolina Hurricanes prospects capture 2016 Traverse City tournament title

Peter Koutroumpis, Triangle Sports Network
Peter Koutroumpis, Triangle Sports Network
Peter Koutroumpis, Triangle Sports Network

TRAVERSE CITY, MICH. – The future looks bright for the Carolina Hurricanes.

That’s the perspective one would get when finding out that this year’s edition of Hurricanes prospects who traveled to compete in the 2016 Traverse City NHL Prospect Tournament captured the overall title with a 6-4 win over the host Detroit Red Wings at Center Ice Arena on Tuesday.

Julien Gauthier led the Hurricanes with two goals, while Jake Bean, Steven Lorentz, Andrew Poturalski, and Hudson Elynuik posted singles, and supported the win for goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic.

Having won the annual eight-team tournament back in 2009, coincidentally enough against Detroit as well, the Hurricanes returned this year with a talented group of recent draftees and invitees that finished with clean 4-0 record to raise the newly minted Matthew Wuest Memorial Cup.

The Hurricanes finished fourth overall in 2014 and 2015 while placing sixth in 2013.

Highlights: CanesVision (CarolinaHurricanes.com)

Playing in the Lindsay Division, Carolina posted three successive wins – a 4-3 overtime decision over the New York Rangers, a 4-2 win over the Minnesota Wild, and a 6-3 victory over the Dallas Stars – before facing the Howe Division-winner Red Wings in the final.

With a coaching staff led by Charlotte Checkers bench boss Ulf Samuelsson, the triumphant squad returns to North Carolina in preparation for the Hurricanes’ main training camp that begins on Friday at PNC Arena, and for Checkers camp that will begin subsequently afterwards.