Carolina Hurricanes: Add Two Hockey Ops Hires Ahead of Playoffs

The Carolina Hurricanes have added two new hires ahead of the playoffs

The Carolina Hurricanes have announced two new hires to their hockey operations as the team prepares to make the move to Edmonton to start the 2020 Playoffs.

The two additions plus up the team’s medical and coaching staff right before the start of training camp, which starts today. The new staff will travel with the team to the new hub cities and be a part of the playoff effort, granted that they pass the league’s requirements to enter the bubble.

Don Waddell announced that the team is adding former NHL player Peter Harrold as the new skills coach as well as Mike Maresca, formerly of the AHL’s Syracuse Crunch, as the new team massage therapist.

Peter Harrold is naturally the more recognizable of the two names. The former undrafted defender was signed straight out of Boston College by the Kings in 2006. He played for the Kings and Devils from 2006 to 2015. He spent his final professional hockey season, the 2015-2016 season, playing for the Chicago Wolves, then AHL affiliate of the St. Louis Blues.

During his career, he represented Team USA 2009 IIHF World Championship where Team USA ended up losing in the semi-finals as well as the consolation game. He never managed to put up great numbers in the NHL but played excellent hockey at the AHL level racking up several seasons with 20+ assists as a blueline defender.

His addition as the skills coach for the Carolina Hurricanes isn’t necessarily striking, but it will resonate a team of young players who can understand the struggles of player who is looking for their place. Little known fact, he practiced with the team in 2015 as a FA, before ultimately signing with the Blues.

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Mike Maresca on the other hand is going to be a stranger to virtually everyone. He will serve as a replacement for Tristan Simmons whose contract was not renewed this summer. As part of the Return to Play plan, each NHL team entering the bubble will need a massage therapist and Maresca will travel with the team to fulfill that requirement.

Before being the Crunch’s therapist Maresca worked at The Spa at 500, Art of Massage, New York Spine and Wellness, and Massage Envy. Maresca is a graduate of Coker College and the Finger Lakes School of Massage, which I am told is an actual school and not a play on words. But you have to admit that of all the massage school names out there, this one takes the cake.

So welcome aboard the Carolina Hurricanes train to these two new additions. Next stop; the Stanley Cup Playoffs!