Carolina Hurricanes facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Carolina Hurricanes |
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| Conference | Eastern |
| Division | Metropolitan |
| Founded | 1972 |
| History | New England Whalers 1972–1979 (WHA) Hartford Whalers 1979–1997 (NHL) Carolina Hurricanes 1997–present |
| Home arena | Lenovo Center |
| City | Raleigh, North Carolina |
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| Colors | Black, red, gray, white |
| Media | Television
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| Owner(s) | Tom Dundon |
| General manager | Eric Tulsky |
| Head coach | Rod Brind'Amour |
| Captain | Jordan Staal |
| Minor league affiliates | Chicago Wolves (AHL) |
| Stanley Cups | 1 (2005–06) |
| Conference championships | 2 (2001–02, 2005–06) |
| Presidents' Trophies | 0 |
| Division championships | 6 (1998–99, 2001–02, 2005–06, 2020–21, 2021–22, 2022–23) |
The Carolina Hurricanes, often called the Canes, are a professional ice hockey team. They are based in Raleigh, North Carolina. The Hurricanes play in the National Hockey League (NHL). They are part of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference. Their home games are played at the Lenovo Center.
The team started in 1971 as the New England Whalers in the World Hockey Association (WHA). They were very successful early on. They won the first-ever Avco World Trophy in the 1972–73 season. In 1979, the team joined the NHL and changed their name to the Hartford Whalers. In 1997, the team moved to North Carolina and became the Hurricanes. They reached the Stanley Cup Finals in 2002 but lost. However, they won the Stanley Cup in 2006 against the Edmonton Oilers. This was the first major sports championship for North Carolina.
Contents
Team History: From Whalers to Hurricanes
The Early Years: New England and Hartford Whalers (1971–1997)
The New England Whalers began in November 1971 in Boston, Massachusetts. For their first two years, they played in Boston. In 1974, the team moved to Hartford, Connecticut. They played their first game at the Hartford Civic Center Coliseum in January 1975. This arena became their home until 1997.
The Whalers were one of the strongest teams in the WHA. In 1979, they joined the NHL along with three other WHA teams. They had to change their name to the Hartford Whalers because of the Boston Bruins. The Whalers were not as successful in the NHL as they had been in the WHA. They only had three winning seasons. Their best time was in the mid-to-late 1980s. They won their only playoff series in 1986. In 1992, they made the playoffs for the last time.
Moving to North Carolina (1997–2001)
The Whalers faced challenges in Hartford. It was the smallest American market in the league. Their arena, the Hartford Civic Center, was also one of the smallest. In March 1997, the team owner, Peter Karmanos, announced the team would move. They couldn't agree on building a new arena in Hartford.
On May 6, 1997, Karmanos said the Whalers would move to the Research Triangle area of North Carolina. They would play in the new Entertainment and Sports Arena (ESA) in Raleigh. Karmanos chose the new name, the Carolina Hurricanes. The team also changed its colors from blue, green, and silver to black and red. These colors matched North Carolina State University.
The new arena in Raleigh wasn't ready for two years. So, the Hurricanes played their first two seasons in Greensboro, about 90 minutes west of Raleigh. This was a difficult time for the team. Many fans in Raleigh didn't want to drive to Greensboro. The arena in Greensboro was very large, so even when some fans came, it looked empty. This made it hard for the team to gain new fans. Despite these challenges, the Hurricanes still played well. In the 1998–99 season, they had their first winning season and made the playoffs since 1992. They also won the new Southeast Division.
The team finally moved to their new arena in Raleigh in 1999. They were the first major sports team to play in Raleigh. This move helped the team connect better with its fans. A big trade happened this season, bringing future captain Rod Brind'Amour to the team. In 2000–01, the Hurricanes made the playoffs again. They lost to the New Jersey Devils in six games. Even though they lost, the fans gave them a standing ovation. This showed that Raleigh was starting to love its new hockey team.
Reaching the Stanley Cup Finals (2001–2006)
The Hurricanes made a big splash in the 2002 playoffs. They won their division. In the first round, they beat the New Jersey Devils. Then, they faced the Montreal Canadiens. In a memorable Game 4, the Hurricanes came back from being down 3–0 to win in overtime. This game became known as the "Miracle at Molson". The Hurricanes won the series.
In the Eastern Conference Finals, Carolina played the Toronto Maple Leafs. In Game 6, Martin Gelinas scored in overtime to send the Hurricanes to their first Stanley Cup Finals. Fans started new traditions, like meeting the team at the airport and having big tailgate parties before games. The arena became known as "the loudest building in the NHL".
In the Stanley Cup Finals, Carolina played the strong Detroit Red Wings. The Hurricanes won Game 1 in overtime. But Detroit came back to win the next four games and the series.
The next two seasons were tough for the Hurricanes. They finished last in the league in 2002–03. After a slow start in 2003–04, coach Paul Maurice was replaced by Peter Laviolette. One good thing from these years was drafting Eric Staal in 2003.
Winning the Stanley Cup
After a break in the NHL season, the Hurricanes had their best year ever in 2005–06. They finished with 52 wins and 112 points. This was a new record for the team. They also won their third Southeast Division title. More fans came to games, and the team made a profit for the first time since moving from Hartford.
In the playoffs, they faced the Montreal Canadiens. After losing the first two games, rookie goalie Cam Ward took over. He played great, and the Hurricanes won the series. They then beat the New Jersey Devils in five games.
In the Eastern Conference Finals, Carolina played the Buffalo Sabres. In Game 7, the Hurricanes scored three goals in the third period to win 4–2. Rod Brind'Amour scored the winning goal, sending the team to the Stanley Cup Finals again.
The Stanley Cup Finals were against the Edmonton Oilers. The Hurricanes won Game 1 in a comeback. They also won Game 2. The series went to Game 7 in Raleigh. The Hurricanes won 3–1, securing their first Stanley Cup championship! Cam Ward was named the most valuable player of the playoffs, winning the Conn Smythe Trophy. Many players, like Rod Brind'Amour and Glen Wesley, won the Cup for the first time after long careers. This was North Carolina's first major professional sports championship.
After the Championship (2006–2013)
After winning the Cup, the Hurricanes had a tough time. They missed the playoffs for two seasons in a row. This was unusual for a team that had just won the championship.
In 2008–09, coach Peter Laviolette was replaced by Paul Maurice again. The team started to play better. They made a great run at the end of the season, winning nine games in a row. They finished sixth in the Eastern Conference and made the playoffs.
The 2009 playoffs were exciting. In Game 4 against the New Jersey Devils, Jussi Jokinen scored with only 0.2 seconds left to win the game. In Game 7, the Hurricanes made an amazing comeback in the last two minutes to win the series. This was called the "Shock at the Rock". They then beat the Boston Bruins in Game 7 in overtime. They went to the Eastern Conference Finals but lost to the Pittsburgh Penguins.
The next season, 2009–10, was difficult. The team had a 14-game losing streak. Eric Staal became the new captain. They drafted Jeff Skinner in 2010.
The 2010–11 season was a rebuilding year. Jeff Skinner played amazingly, leading all rookies in points. Raleigh hosted the 2011 NHL All-Star Game. Eric Staal, Jeff Skinner, and Cam Ward were all chosen for the All-Star Game. The Hurricanes just missed the playoffs. Jeff Skinner won the Calder Memorial Trophy as rookie of the year.
In December 2011, Paul Maurice was fired, and Kirk Muller became coach. The team missed the playoffs for a third straight season in 2011–12. In 2012, the Hurricanes traded for Jordan Staal, bringing him to play with his older brother, Eric Staal. Despite this, the team missed the playoffs for a fourth season in 2012–13.
New Ownership and a "Bunch of Jerks" (2017–Present)
Before the 2013–14 season, the Hurricanes moved to the new Metropolitan Division. They continued to miss the playoffs for several seasons. In 2014, Bill Peters became the new head coach. The team still struggled to make the playoffs.
During this time, there were rumors that the team might move from Raleigh. The owner, Peter Karmanos, was trying to sell the team. Attendance at games had gone down. However, in December 2017, Thomas Dundon bought the team. This meant the Hurricanes would stay in North Carolina.
Dundon made many changes to the team's management. In May 2018, Don Waddell became the team president and general manager. Also, former team captain Rod Brind'Amour was named the new head coach.
On April 4, 2019, the Hurricanes won a game against the New Jersey Devils. This win meant they made the playoffs for the first time since 2009! During this time, the Hurricanes became famous for their fun on-ice victory celebrations called "Storm Surges". A TV commentator, Don Cherry, called the Hurricanes a "bunch of jerks" because of these celebrations. The team and their fans loved this nickname and used it as a battle cry!
In the 2019 Stanley Cup playoffs, the Hurricanes beat the defending champions, the Washington Capitals, in an exciting Game 7. Then, they swept the New York Islanders in four straight games. This was the first time the team had ever swept a playoff series. They reached the Eastern Conference Finals but were then swept by the Boston Bruins.
On February 22, 2020, something amazing happened. The Hurricanes' emergency goalie, David Ayres, who usually drives the Zamboni for another team, had to play in a game. He became the first emergency goalie in NHL history to win a game! The season ended early due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In August 2020, Andrei Svechnikov became the first Hurricanes player to score three goals in a playoff game.
The 2020–21 season was great for the Hurricanes. They won the Central Division, their first division title since 2006. They made the playoffs for three years in a row, a first for the franchise. They beat the Nashville Predators but lost to the Tampa Bay Lightning. Defenseman Jaccob Slavin won the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy for being a very fair player. Coach Brind'Amour won the Jack Adams Award as the NHL's best coach.
The 2021–22 season saw the Hurricanes win the Metropolitan Division for the first time. They had 54 wins, the most in team history. They beat the Boston Bruins in the first round of the playoffs but lost to the New York Rangers. In the following season, they won their division again. They made it to the Conference Finals but were swept by the Florida Panthers. In the 2023–24 season, they reached the second round of the playoffs but lost to the Rangers.
Team Colors and Uniforms
The Hurricanes' main logo is a hurricane symbol. Their secondary logo is a storm warning flag on a hockey stick. A black triangle behind the flag represents the Triangle region of North Carolina. The team's colors are black, red, gray, and white.
The Hurricanes usually wear black uniforms at home and white uniforms on the road. They have also worn special alternate uniforms over the years.
Uniform Changes Over Time
The first Hurricanes uniforms had the main logo on the front and the flag logo on the shoulders. They also had red and black storm warning flags on the tail of the jersey. Over the years, they made small changes to the colors and stripes.
In 2008, they introduced their first black alternate uniform. It had the flag logo on the front. In 2013, they changed their main uniforms, using less black and silver. The flag logo and warning flag patterns were removed from these uniforms.
When the NHL switched to Adidas jerseys in 2017, the Hurricanes updated their red uniform. It brought back some elements from the original design, like black stripes and the warning flag pattern.
In 2018, a new black alternate uniform was released. It had an updated flag logo and the Flag of North Carolina on the shoulders. This black uniform became their main home uniform for the playoffs. In 2019, a new white uniform was introduced. It had "CANES" written diagonally on the front, and the flag logo returned to the shoulders.
The Hurricanes sometimes mix and match their uniform pieces. For example, they have worn black pants with their white road uniforms. In 2022, the black uniform became their full-time home uniform. They also brought back their original red uniform from 1997 as a special alternate jersey for their 25th anniversary.
Whalers Heritage Uniforms
Since 2018, the Hurricanes have worn special green "Heritage" uniforms. These uniforms are a tribute to the team's past as the Hartford Whalers. They usually wear them a few times each season, often when playing against the Boston Bruins. When they wear these uniforms at home, the old Whalers' theme song, "Brass Bonanza," is played after goals.
For the 2020–21 season, they wore a "Reverse Retro" uniform. This jersey used the design of the 1980s Whalers uniforms but with a gray color. In the 2023–24 season, they also brought back the white version of the Whalers uniform.
Minor League Teams
The Carolina Hurricanes have minor league teams where younger players develop their skills. These teams are:
- Chicago Wolves (AHL)
- Bloomington Bison (ECHL)
Recent Season Records
This table shows how the Hurricanes have done in their last five seasons. Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, OTL = Overtime Losses, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against
| Season | GP | W | L | OTL | Pts | GF | GA | Finish | Playoffs |
| 2019–20 | 68 | 38 | 25 | 5 | 81 | 222 | 193 | 4th, Metropolitan | Lost in first round, 1–4 (Bruins) |
| 2020–21 | 56 | 36 | 12 | 8 | 80 | 179 | 136 | 1st, Central | Lost in second round, 1–4 (Lightning) |
| 2021–22 | 82 | 54 | 20 | 8 | 116 | 278 | 202 | 1st, Metropolitan | Lost in second round, 3–4 (Rangers) |
| 2022–23 | 82 | 52 | 21 | 9 | 113 | 266 | 213 | 1st, Metropolitan | Lost in conference finals, 0–4 (Panthers) |
| 2023–24 | 82 | 52 | 23 | 7 | 111 | 279 | 216 | 2nd, Metropolitan | Lost in second round, 2–4 (Rangers) |
Players and Team Staff
Retired Numbers
The Carolina Hurricanes have retired three numbers to honor special players. This means no other player on the team can wear that number again.
- 2 – Glen Wesley (Defenseman, 1994–2008)
- 10 – Ron Francis (Center, 1981–1991, 1998–2004)
- 17 – Rod Brind'Amour (Center, 2000–2010)
The NHL also retired number 99 for all teams to honor Wayne Gretzky. Eric Staal's number 12 will also be retired in January 2025.
The Hurricanes also honor three other numbers within the team, but their banners are not publicly displayed:
- 3 – Steve Chiasson (Defenseman, 1997–1999)
- 9 – Gordie Howe (Right Wing, 1977–1980)
- 63 – Josef Vasicek (Forward, 2000–2006)
| Carolina Hurricanes retired numbers | ||||
| No. | Player | Position | Career | Date of retirement |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Glen Wesley | D | 1994–2003, 2003–2008 | February 17, 2009 |
| 10 | Ron Francis | C | 1981–1991, 1998–2004 | January 28, 2006 |
| 17 | Rod Brind'Amour | C | 2000–2010 | February 18, 2011 |
Team Captains
The team captain is a leader on the ice. Here are the captains for the Carolina Hurricanes:
- Kevin Dineen, 1997–1998
- Keith Primeau, 1998–1999
- Ron Francis, 1999–2004
- Rod Brind'Amour, 2005–2010
- Eric Staal, 2010–2016
- Justin Faulk and Jordan Staal, 2017–2018 (co-captains)
- Justin Williams, 2018–2019
- Jordan Staal, 2019–present
Hall of Famers
Several players and staff connected to the Hurricanes have been inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. This is a special honor for the best in hockey.
- Tom Barrasso (played briefly for the team)
- Paul Coffey (played for the team near the end of his career)
- Ron Francis (captained the team and spent many years as a player and staff member)
- Mark Recchi (played briefly for the team)
- Jim Rutherford (was the team's general manager for many years)
Six other Hall of Famers played for the team when it was the Hartford Whalers: Gordie Howe, Mark Howe, Dave Keon, Bobby Hull, Brendan Shanahan, and Chris Pronger.
Broadcasters
You can watch Carolina Hurricanes games on FanDuel Sports Network South. The play-by-play announcer is Mike Maniscalco. Tripp Tracy or Shane Willis provide color commentary. You can also listen to games on the radio, with WCMC-FM in Raleigh as the main station.
First-Round Draft Picks
Every year, teams pick young players in the NHL Entry Draft. Here are some of the players the Hurricanes have picked in the first round:
- 1997: Nikos Tselios
- 1998: Jeff Heerema
- 1999: David Tanabe
- 2001: Igor Knyazev
- 2002: Cam Ward
- 2003: Eric Staal
- 2004: Andrew Ladd
- 2005: Jack Johnson
- 2007: Brandon Sutter
- 2008: Zach Boychuk
- 2009: Philippe Paradis
- 2010: Jeff Skinner
- 2011: Ryan Murphy
- 2013: Elias Lindholm
- 2014: Haydn Fleury
- 2015: Noah Hanifin
- 2016: Jake Bean, Julien Gauthier
- 2017: Martin Necas
- 2018: Andrei Svechnikov
- 2019: Ryan Suzuki
- 2020: Seth Jarvis
- 2023: Bradly Nadeau
Awards and Trophies
The Hurricanes and their players have won several important NHL awards:
- 2006
Prince of Wales Trophy (Awarded to the Eastern Conference playoff champion)
- 2002, 2006
Conn Smythe Trophy (Playoff MVP)
- Cam Ward: 2006
Frank J. Selke Trophy (Best defensive forward)
- Rod Brind'Amour: 2006, 2007
King Clancy Memorial Trophy (Leadership and humanitarian contributions)
- Ron Francis: 2002
Lady Byng Memorial Trophy (Sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct)
- Ron Francis: 2002
- Jaccob Slavin: 2021
Lester Patrick Trophy (Contributions to hockey in the United States)
- Peter Karmanos Jr.: 1998
Calder Memorial Trophy (Rookie of the Year)
- Jeff Skinner: 2011
Jack Adams Award (Coach of the Year)
- Rod Brind'Amour: 2021
William M. Jennings Trophy (Goaltenders on the team with fewest goals allowed)
- Frederik Andersen: 2022
- Antti Raanta: 2022
Team Statistics
Top Scorers in Team History
These players have scored the most points for the Hurricanes (including their time as the Hartford Whalers).
- * – current Hurricanes player
Note: Pos = Position; GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; P/G = Points per game
| Player | Pos | GP | G | A | Pts | P/G |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ron Francis | C | 1,186 | 382 | 793 | 1,175 | .99 |
| Eric Staal | C | 909 | 322 | 453 | 775 | .85 |
| Sebastian Aho* | C | 598 | 254 | 303 | 557 | .93 |
| Kevin Dineen | RW | 708 | 250 | 294 | 544 | .77 |
| Rod Brind'Amour | C | 694 | 174 | 299 | 473 | .68 |
| Jordan Staal* | C | 822 | 165 | 262 | 427 | .52 |
| Jeff O'Neill | RW | 673 | 198 | 218 | 416 | .62 |
| Teuvo Teravainen | LW | 555 | 138 | 277 | 415 | .75 |
| Pat Verbeek | RW | 433 | 192 | 211 | 403 | .93 |
| Jeff Skinner | LW | 579 | 204 | 175 | 379 | .65 |
| Player | Pos | G |
|---|---|---|
| Ron Francis | C | 382 |
| Eric Staal | C | 322 |
| Sebastian Aho* | C | 254 |
| Kevin Dineen | RW | 250 |
| Blaine Stoughton | RW | 219 |
| Jeff Skinner | LW | 204 |
| Jeff O'Neill | C | 198 |
| Geoff Sanderson | LW | 196 |
| Pat Verbeek | RW | 192 |
| Sylvain Turgeon | LW | 178 |
| Player | Pos | A |
|---|---|---|
| Ron Francis | C | 793 |
| Eric Staal | C | 453 |
| Sebastian Aho* | C | 303 |
| Rod Brind'Amour | C | 299 |
| Kevin Dineen | RW | 294 |
| Teuvo Teravainen | LW | 277 |
| Jordan Staal* | C | 262 |
| Andrew Cassels | C | 253 |
| Jaccob Slavin* | D | 223 |
| Jeff O'Neill | C | 218 |
Team Records
These are some of the best records for the Hurricanes, including their time as the Hartford Whalers.
Individual Player Records
- Most goals in one season: Blaine Stoughton, 56 (1979–80)
- Most assists in one season: Ron Francis, 69 (1989–90)
- Most points in one season: Mike Rogers, 105 (1979–80, 1980–81)
- Most points in a season by a defenseman: Mark Howe, 80 (1979–80)
- Most points in a season by a rookie: Sylvain Turgeon, 72 (1983–84)
- Fastest three goals (hat trick): Ray Whitney, 1 minute 40 seconds (February 8, 2007)
- Most wins by a goalie in one season: Cam Ward, 39 (2008–09)
- Most shutouts by a goalie in one season: Arturs Irbe, Kevin Weekes, or Cam Ward, 6 (multiple seasons)
- Most career playoff goals: Eric Staal, 18
- Most career playoff points: Eric Staal, 40
- Most points in one playoff season: Eric Staal, 28 (2006)
Team Records
- Most wins in one season: 54 (2021–22)
- Most points in one season: 116 (2021–22)
- Most wins in a row: 11 (2022–23)
- Most home wins in a row: 12 (2008–09)
Images for kids
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The Hurricanes drafted Noah Hanifin 5th overall in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft.
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Rod Brind'Amour was the Hurricanes' team captain from 2005 to 2010.
See also
In Spanish: Carolina Hurricanes para niños
