RALEIGH, NC—Ron Francis, Assistant General Manager and Director of Player Development for the Carolina Hurricanes, announced that the team signed Chiefs forward Drayson Bowman to a three-year, entry-level contract.

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Bowman is still eligible to return to play for the Chiefs, should he not be named to the Hurricanes’ roster following training camp. The contract will pay Bowman $550,000, $600,000 and $650,000 on the NHL level or $65,000 on the minor-league level in years one through three. Bowman will also receive a signing bonus of $262,500.

“Drayson had an outstanding season capped off by a strong performance in helping Spokane win the Memorial Cup” said Francis. “He is an excellent goal-scorer with good hockey sense and is capable of competing for a spot on our roster as early as this fall.”

Drafted by the Hurricanes in the third round of the 2007 NHL Entry Draft, Bowman has totaled 83 goals and 76 assists (159 points) and 168 penalty minutes in 203 career WHL regular-season games with Spokane. He has averaged a point per game in 27 career playoff games, tallying 13 goals and 14 assists.

Another former Chief, Chris Bruton also knows where he'll be playing next season. The captain of last year's Memorial Cup Champions will play for Acadia University in Wolfville, Nova Scotia.