Raleigh North Carolina, Home of the Hurricanes.

One would think that Raleigh North Carolina would be the least likely destination for a professional Hockey team. This is Tobacco Road. College basketball is king in this part of the country.  The UNC Tarheels, Duke Blue Devils, and NC State Wolfpack all call the triangle home. These three schools have won a combined (11) national titles in men's basketball.  My question to you is this.  How can a Hockey team flourish and become champions in a place were the roundball outweighs the hockey puck?  Before I give you that answer, I'll give you a short history lesson on The Carolina Hurricanes. 

The Carolina Hurricanes where born The New England Whalers of the World Hockey Association in 1971. The Whalers joined the National Hockey League as part of the WHA-NHL merger in 1979.  The Whalers played in Hartford Connecticut, which was the smallest american market in the NHL.  Peter Karmonos Jr. purchased The Whalers in 1994 and a franchise move seemed eminent. So where would the Whalers call their new home?  Surely a Midwestern city and state
where hockey is traditionally played would be the ideal destination for Karmonos' new team.  Not quite. Karmonas moved his team to Raleigh North Carolina and renamed them The Carolina Hurricanes.

With the new arena in Raleigh ( EA Sports Arena) not yet finished, the Hurricanes played their first two seasons at the Greensboro Coliseum in Greensboro NC.  Only a small legion of "Caniacs" would make the 90 minute drive from Raleigh to support the team, so attendance an issue  When The EA Sports Arena finally opened in for the 1999-2000 season; The Hurricanes were fresh off of a playoff appearance, so expectations were high. Although the Hurricanes missed the playoffs that year, fan support in Raleigh was tremendous.  The next two seasons would see additional playoff runs and a NHL Finals appearence in the 01-02 season.  Finally, "Canes" had arrived. Raleigh North Carolina had embraced NHL hockey; culminating with a Stanley Cup Championship in the 05-06 season.  

I've been to my fair share of Carolina Hurricane hockey games.  The atmosphere is electric and the action is non stop.  I've watched players like: Ron Francis, Rod Brind'amour, Jeff O'Neil, Eric Cole, and Eric Staal grace the ice in Raleigh. The name on the building has changed from: The EA Sports Arena, The RBC Center, and now PNC Arena. Through it all the Hurricane fanbase has been exceptional and loyal.  Raleigh North Carolina; home of NHL Hockey, and home of The Hurricanes.  Wow!  Who would have ever thought that "country folk" would love hockey?