The Carolina Hurricanes renewed its goal keeper contract. Cam Ward’s new contract was signed for three years and it’s worth US$8 million.

Ward’s earnings according to the new contract will be $2 million in 2007-08, $2.5 million in 2008-09 and $3.5 million in 2009-10.

"Cam is one of the cornerstones of our team moving forward," the club’s GM Jim Rutherford said in a statement on Thursday.

"He has already built an impressive resume for himself at a young age, and we believe he is going to be one of the elite goaltenders in the National Hockey League for a long time."

The 23-year-old goalie was a key factor in Hurricanes’ 2006 Stanley Cup championship earning the Conn Smythe Trophy as the playoff MVP as a rookie.

In the 2007 season Com Ward had a career-best 30 wins and posted a 2.93 GAA and a .897 save percentage.
He ranked tied for 15th among NHL netminders in wins (30) and tied for 13th in games played (60).
Before turning pro Ward played for the WHL's Red Deer Rebels.