Kids Canes Special Update: Preseason Game One

Sep 26, 2023; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; Carolina Hurricanes right wing Noel Gunler (36) and Tampa Bay Lightning defensemen Emil Lillieberg (78) skate after the loose puck during the first period at PNC Arena. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 26, 2023; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; Carolina Hurricanes right wing Noel Gunler (36) and Tampa Bay Lightning defensemen Emil Lillieberg (78) skate after the loose puck during the first period at PNC Arena. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports /
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Kids Canes Reader….you didn’t miss it did you? You saw last night’s Carolina Hurricanes preseason game didn’t you? It was just a preseason game, but my oh my it was great to see hockey again. The Most Junior Hurricanes Reporter got to stay up just a few minutes to see the game and hear his buddies broadcaster Mike “Big Rig” Maniscalco and Tripp “Huge Caniac” Tracy. He was so excited!
AND THE CANES WON! 5-2 over the Tampa Bay Lighting.
Did you know any of the names that played last night? There were a few that we knew. Jalen “Chat-Man-Du” Chatfield, Frederik “Freddie” Andersen, and Pyotr “PK” Kochetkov all played but there were a lot new and unfamiliar.
This usually happens in a preseason game. The Hurricanes try out different players just to see what they can do, or to see a new player play for the first time. Being a preseason game, it does not matter all that much who wins or loses.

preseason game Mandatory Credit: Neville E. Guard-USA TODAY Sports
Jayden Halbgewachs when he played with the San Jose Sharks. Do you remember the Brent “Kit-Kat” Burns played for the Sharks? /

One of the names the MJHR and I didn’t know was Jayden “Hogwarts” Halbgewachs. “Hogwarts” Halbgewachs is 26 years old and from Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada shoots left-handed, which made me happy because I am left-handed. Also, did you know Regina is the capital of Saskatchewan? And that Saskatchewan is a little bit like a state here in the United States. Cool!
“Hogwarts” Halbgewachs won a Swedish Hockey League Championship last season with the Vaxjo Lakers HC. This was the Lakers’ 4th SHL championship! That’s impressive!
In 52 regular season games “Hogwarts” Halbgewachs scored 10 goals and 10 assists. During the playoff run of 17 games, he scored 4 points.

preseason game. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports
Noel Gunler was another name we did not know much about until he scored a goal last night in the Hurricanes game. He played last season with the Chicago Wolves of the AHL. /

Another player that we did not know from last night, but that scored a goal, was Noel Gunler. He is from Lulea, Sweden. (We will talk more about Sweden next week). Noel Gunler is 21 and plays forward (Forwards try to score) and shoots right-handed.
He has also played in the Swedish Hockey League, but not for the same team as Jayden “Hogwarts” Halbgewachs. Noel Gunler played for the Bryans IF. Most recently Noel Gunler played for the Chicago Wolves in the American Hockey League or AHL (HERE is a link to our article about the AHL). He scored 8 goals and had 10 assists with the Wolves.
Even though it was a preseason game it was so much to watch the Hurricanes playing. It was especially cool to see Jayden “Hogwarts” Halbgewachs and Noel Gunler  play so well!
Next week’s regularly scheduled Kids Canes article, we will talk about Jesper Fast, so be sure to CHECK IT OUT!
You can always check our GLOSSARY OF HOCKEY TERMS and KIDS CANES CENTRAL.