Arrival of Carolina Hurricanes 25 years ago marked spike in youth hockey interest

RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) — The arrival of the Carolina Hurricanes in 1997 created a growth of curiosity in hockey all throughout the state.

In February of 2007, that heightened curiosity manifested itself within the type of the Carolina Junior Hurricanes hockey program, which is now the premiere youth hockey program in all of North Carolina.

“The junior Canes program is superior! It has been an enormous a part of my life; ever since I used to be younger, I have been part of it,” Tavien Mandeville mentioned. “They identical to took me in and it is simply been an superior expertise.”

The hockey program is house to greater than 600 girls and boys from ages 8-18.

“We get collectively each week, observe, have enjoyable,” Nolan Roberts mentioned.

The gamers even get an opportunity to journey to locations they might not in any other case ever get to see. Weekend video games typically take the groups to completely different states throughout the nation.

“You miss plenty of college, in order that’s enjoyable however it’s superior to see completely different cities,” Mandeville mentioned. “A few of the cities I might by no means go to, however due to hockey I get to go to them.”