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North Carolina Hockey Preview: From The West To East, Pros To College.

ByChris Baker|
May 29, 2023; Dallas, Texas, USA; A view of an NHL puck with the Stanley Cup logo and hockey sticks and the face-off circle during the third period of the game between the Dallas Stars and the Vegas Golden Knights in game six of the Western Conference Finals of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
May 29, 2023; Dallas, Texas, USA; A view of an NHL puck with the Stanley Cup logo and hockey sticks and the face-off circle during the third period of the game between the Dallas Stars and the Vegas Golden Knights in game six of the Western Conference Finals of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Preview
As we gear up for another hockey season here in at Cardiac Canes, I wanted to preview just some of the teams we will be looking to cover over the season. There is a lot of hockey to keep an eye on here in the Olde North State, not to mention all that comes along with the Carolina Hurricanes.

Of course we will be tracking the Hurricanes with plenty to preview over the next few weeks. And we plan to cover the Canes from every angle for the season. This should be a great year to be a Carolina Hurricane fan, and there is little more we are looking forward to.

As of this writing, there the Canes organization has yet to name an AHL affiliation, and it looks like their is no movement towards naming one. If there is a sudden, change, we will let you know. Of course we have already speculated about Greensboro getting an AHL team in the near future. We were certainly the first to preview possible team names too!

Should the Hurricanes prospects be dropped off at the ECHL Norfolk Admirals, we will be dropping anchor and watching intently.

I am personally excited to cover a full season of the Carolina Thunderbirds, and make it to a game in Winston-Salem. The Noisy Birds of Camel City have been making some big moves this summer and it should be exciting to see where it goes!

The Fayetteville Marksmen will be dropping the puck in the SPHL again next year. I have my sights set on making a game in Fayetteville as well. Plus there is something brewing with the Marksmen. A noticeable glow-up in their branding has been taking place. In fact I would say that is their biggest move so far over the summer.

College hockey is going to pop off next year in North Carolina.

We will start in western North Carolina with a preview of the Appalachian State Mountaineers. FIRST…..we need to announce a correction! The outdoor game a Kidd Brewer was in fact an April Fools joke that got me. GOOD ONE! They will however play an away outdoor game against Kutztown University in Pennsylvania in December.

Making our way east we hit the 49ers of UNC-Charlotte. Last season the 49ers went 6-3-1 with big wins over Duke and Appalachian State. With just three seniors on the squad, this young team has just started to play with each and will get even better this season.

Next up, Winston Salem and the Wake Forest Demon Deacons. Mike Adams has officially taken over the helm of WFU Hockey. The Minnesota native has a wealth of playing and coaching experience. Adams played college hockey at Univ. of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, and has been coaching with the Carolina Junior Hurricanes. WFU starts it’s season off September 15th against the Hokies of Virginia Tech.

High Point University’s Ice Panthers men’s team won 3 out of their first 5 games last year, and never struggled to put the biscuit in the basket, however getting wins in the later part of the season provided difficult. They will be looking to rebound and build in the 2023-24 season

Elon’s Club Ice Hockey team made their first playoff appearance in team history last season. The Pheonix hope to rise from this win and continue upward in the 2023-24 season. They open their season up with Appalachian State at the Orange County Sports Complex on September 9th.

College hockey continues to grow here in the RDU Triangle.

UNC-Chapel Hill has already released it’s ice hockey schedule. Coming on the heels of their loss to North Carolina State IcePack in the Frozen Finley game at the end of last season, Carolina will be ready to come out strong. They start their season off with a trip north to play the University of Delaware and Rowan University, then come back to Chapel Hill for their home opener against the University of Kentucky.

Things could not have been any better for North Carolina State’s IcePack last year, as their came out big winners in the Frozen Finley game against UNC. This game was insane as 26,000+ people packed into Carter Finley Stadium to watch the IcePack and the Heels drop the puck. What an experience it was! North Carolina State has one of the most developed and robust of the ice hockey teams in North Carolina and it shows. The NCSU Icepack will start their season against ECU and then travel to Virginia to tangle with the Penn State Nittany Lions.

According to the schedules of several North Carolina teams, Duke is going to field a team this year BUT I have yet to see anything. The are set to play Wake Forest and UNC in exhibition games, so we will have to see what the Blue Devils are up to and how well they do.

The IceBucs of Eastern Carolina University have struggled in the past to get field hockey teams that are competitive. Winning just 9 games last year the Pirates have room for improvement.

As we end up on the coast, this preview tour of college ends up at one of the more interesting hockey programs in North Carolina at UNC-Wilmington. The Seahawks have a great home schedule coming up this year including HPU, UNC, and NC State.

Keep your eyes peeled through out the season for updates on hockey here in North Carolina. From the Canes to the clubs, we will be working to be the place you come to for hockey news on all the North Carolina teams…..except the Checkers. After the playoffs last year, can you blame us?

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