Erik Cole is ready to rejoin the Carolina Hurricanes.
The team activated Cole from injured reserve on Friday after a neck injury caused the strapping winger to miss Carolina's last four games.
Erik Cole was removed from the ice on a stretcher after crashing into Florida goalie Tomas Vokoun on Nov. 12.
(Hans Deryk/Associated Press)
To make room for Cole, the Hurricanes assigned Ryan Bayda to their AHL affiliate in Albany.
Cole, 29, hasn't played since he was taken by stretcher from the ice after being hurt in Carolina's 4-3 win at Florida on Nov. 12.
While driving to the net during the third period, he was checked from behind by Panthers defenceman Jassen Cullimore and crashed headfirst into goalie Tomas Vokoun's pads.
Cole remained motionless for several minutes before being placed on a stretcher and taken to a hospital.
He was released later that night after a CT scan.
Cole has a history of neck injuries. He suffered a fractured vertebra late in the 2005-06 season when he was driven into the boards from behind by Pittsburgh defenceman Brooks Orpik.
The injury caused Cole to miss the rest of the season and nearly all of the playoffs before he returned for Game 6 of the Stanley Cup final, which Carolina went on to win in seven games over the Edmonton Oilers.
Cole, a six-foot-two, 205-pound native of Oswego, N.Y., has three goals and nine assists in 14 games in this, his sixth NHL season.
With files from the Associated PressRelated
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