The Carolina Hurricanes have rewarded coach Paul Maurice with a new contract.

The Hurricanes signed Maurice and his top assistants Kevin McCarthy and Randy Ladouceur to long-term contracts.

The Hurricanes ranked 15th in points among the 16 NHL play-off teams this season, but advanced to the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time in their 23-year history.

After beating the mighty Detroit Red Wings in the opener of the Stanley Cup Finals, the Hurricanes lost the next four games.

The surprising post-season run put Maurice, who completed his seventh season as Hurricanes coach, in the spotlight.

Aged 35, he is the youngest NHL coach and also the longest-reigning following the retirement of Detroit's Scotty Bowman.

Maurice was hired as coach on 6 November, 1995.