Ray Neufeld
Ray Neufeld predates the Carolina Hurricanes. He is the only name on this list to have played for the Hartford Whalers. But his impact on the franchise and the sport is valid nonetheless. Drafted 81st overall in the fourth round by Hartford in 1979, Neufeld joined the team that season scoring his first NHL goal in eight games played and became a consistent 25+ goal scorer.
He would continue to play for Hartford for the next seven years before being traded to Winnipeg who eventually traded him to Whalers archrival Boston. In his eleven-year NHL career, Neufeld played an incredible 595 NHL games earning 157 goals and 200 assists for 357 points.
He also played 28 playoff games scoring 8 goals and earning 6 assists for 14 points. He also has a hattrick of hattricks with the Winnipeg Jets across his first two seasons with the team.
Unfortunately, his career died in Boston who only played him for 15 regular-season and 10 playoff games across two seasons even with 0.6 points per game average. His production in Winnipeg never matched what he did with Hartford and he was never given an NHL chance again. His final season in Boston saw him play a single game.
He was one of the first players of color in the sport of hockey and holds the tenth spot across all NHL players of color in points and goals. His career was stellar and he endured racial slurs and antagonism from both home and away team fans.
He has always been and will always be the true player of color pathfinder in the Carolina Hurricanes / Hartford Whalers franchise history. Today Neufeld works in the oil industry but continues to keep close ties with the sport of hockey as a minor and junior hockey scout.