Ronnie Francis is not quite done with the Hurricanes. While he's no longer an on-ice presence for the Carolina team, he continues to work behind the scenes as Director of Player Development.

Francis retired after 23 seasons, 549 goals, 1,249 assists and 1,798 points, yet when he stepped onto the ice Thursday, he still very much looked like a guy that could play the game at the highest level.

"I was comfortable moving on," Francis was quoted in saying in an article in the Albany Times Union. "I have no desire to go out there and play."

Francis now resides in Raleigh, North Carolina and is happy with the change. "I can walk in the rink in Raleigh or here and enjoy a game as a fan."

His visit to the Rats was to dispense advice and suggestions, not just to the Canes prospects, but also the Colorado Avalanche prospects who share the Cane's AHL farm team.

"This is great for our guys to have him here," Rats head coach Tom Rowe said in the same article. "When you have a Hall of Famer in your midst, you definitely want to take advantage of it."

The Rats responded with two wins this weekend, shutting out the Springfield Falcons 4-0 on Friday, and downing the Providence Bruins 2-1 on Saturday.

Strangely, it was largely the 'Lanche kids who responded in Friday's game as Johnny Boychuk, Jeff Finger, and Cody McCormick all scored with Mark Flood, Ben Guite, and McCormick all picking up assists. Pat Dwyer was the only Hurricanes prospect to tally in that game, while Kevin Estrada, a Carolina third round draft pick in 2001, added an assist.

Canes prospect Justin Peters made 24 saves, improving his record to 4-9-0.

Guite, a free agent prospect for Colorado, also tallied on Saturday night, while Scott Kelman, a Hurricanes free agent prospect, netted the game winning goal at 14:42 of the second period. Peters turned way 29 shots in the win.

Francis will make several more trips to Albany during the course of the season, and will stop down in Southwest Florida to check on the Carolina prospects playing with the Everblades.

"He knows what it takes to be in the NHL," said Rats captain Keith Aucoin, who has spent some time with the NHL Carolina Hurricanes. "We have to use this as an advantage and ask him questions. We all want to get to the next level. He's been there."

Friday
Game Summary
Game Report
Boxscore

Saturday
Game Summary
Game Report
Boxscore

Vince Bellissimo, a Panthers 6th round draft pick in the 2002 draft that is now playing in the Hurricanes system, had a goal and an assist in the Florida Everblades 6-5 win over the Gwinnett Gladiators on Sunday afternoon. Bellissimo's wrist shot from the slot was his 7th goal of the season, and opened a 4-2 lead for the Florida crew.

Mike Vigilante opened the scoring for Gwinnett at 1:41 of the first, but the Blades answered back on Steve Czech's first professional goal, and Reggie Berg's 300th career point on his 134th goal. The Gladiators tied the game at two for finish off the first, on vigilante's second goal of the night.

The Blades talled four goals in the third with Brent McDonald, Niko Tuomi, Brett Peterson and Bellissimo all finding the back of the net.

Panthers propsect Dustin Johner had a three point night, all on assists, as did veteran forward Reggie Berg, with a goal and two assist. Tuomi and Bellissimo each had two point nights with goals and assists each.

Goalie David Shantz made 41 saves to hang on to the win through the third period as the Blades, exhausted from their previous two games against the Pilots, let Gwinnett chip away at their lead in the third. It raised Shantz's record to 8-2-0, however, the ten goals he gave up over the weekend raised his GAA to 3.15 and his save percentage droped to .900.

The Blades get the week off, traveling to Augusta on Friday to face the Anaheim affiliated Lynx for a 7:35 PM game.

Blades explode past Gladiators
Outburst in second lifts Blades to win
Game Summary
Game Recap
Boxscore

Canes prospect Kevin Nastiuk allowed 6 goals in a 6-2 Las Vegas loss to Stockton Saturday night. Nastiuk made 29 saves in the game, dropping his record to 3-1-2. Nastiuk was a Canes 4th round draft pick in 2003.