Nash Makes NHL Debut with Hurricanes
RALEIGH, NC -- Former Cornell standout Riley Nash made his National Hockey League (NHL) debut Wednesday as a member of the Carolina Hurricanes in the team's 4-3 loss to the Phoenix Coyotes.
Wearing jersey number 20, Nash saw 18 shifts of action totaling 13 minutes, eight seconds of ice time. He was centering a line with Eric Staal and Drayson Bowman in the third period. Nash struggled in the face-off dot, winning just three of 13 draws, but Hurricanes head coach Kirk Muller was impressed with his overall game. “I think he’s got great hockey sense,” Muller said. “It’s a big jump, and the pace is quicker. I thought he read a lot of the plays well tonight. I thought he looked comfortable.”
Nash was recalled by Carolina Wednesday from Charlotte of the American Hockey League (AHL). In 31 games with Charlotte, he scored two goals and earned seven assists (nine points).
The Consort, Alb., native is in his second professional season following three years with the Cornell Big Red, and has earned 41 points (16g, 25a) in 110 career AHL games with Charlotte. Nash (6’1”, 191 lbs.) averaged a point per game at Cornell, with 37 goals and 65 assists (102 points) in 102 games.
A former first-round (21st overall in 2007) selection of the Edmonton Oilers, Nash was acquired by Carolina on June 26, 2010, in exchange for a 2010 second-round pick.
