The NHL and Carolina Hurricanes announce Feb. 15, 2023, that they will jointly support long-term ball hockey programming in Raleigh with a $50,000 donation as part of the NHL Legacy Project.
Raleigh
The NHL is joining with the Carolina Hurricanes to provide more opportunities for underrepresented communities in Raleigh.
Three days before the 2023 Stadium Series outdoor game will be played, the league and Hurricanes announced they would provide $50,000 to support long-term sustainable ball hockey programming as part of the NHL’s Legacy Project.
Don Waddell, president and general manager of the Hurricanes, and Jeff Scott, NHL vice president for community development and growth, were among those who gathered on the plaza outside PNC Arena and adjacent to N.C. State’s Carter-Finley Stadium, where the outdoor game will be played Saturday night between the Canes and Washington Capitals.
“We’ve been in this community for 25 years and we’re very proud to be not only in this community but to be a big part of this community,” Waddell said. “We can’t do this alone. The support that we have throughout the Triangle area has been tremendous. Our programs have been going on for a long time … and it’s not just the money we care about, but how we’re doing it and the people we’re giving it to.
“We’re very proud to be able to be part of this legacy. Ball hockey is a great sport and certainly on the rise. We’re very committed to a lot of ideas of building a lot more ball hockey courses. We want to make sure it’s available to everyone who so chooses to play it.”
Scott said 2023 represented the 20th year of the NHL investing in communities through the Legacy Project. He noted the league and its partners have donated $6 million to communities in North America.
“And we’re just getting started,” Scott said. “We recognize the power hockey has to teach valuable lessons, to build life skills, to build communities, to form lasting friendships. But it also speaks to our core focus around promoting diversity and inclusion. We know that over the years hockey has had a very traditional look and feel and we want to make sure our hockey experience is reflective of our communities where we live, work and play in.
“Regardless of you socio-economic status, regardless of your age, regardless of your gender, regardless of your ability, regardless of where you come from, we want hockey to be an opportunity for you. Our long-term fan growth starts and continues right here.”
The Legacy Project is a philanthropic initiative in which the league and its clubs support community organizations on the host city of an NHL event.
Joining in the ceremony Wednesday were members of the Capital City Crew, Triangle Special Hockey and Hurricanes Sled Hockey. Later, the young players took advantage of a ball hockey layout at the plaza to get in a few shots — with Waddell jumping in to show off some of his passing skills.
In more than 30 years at The N&O, Chip Alexander has covered the N.C. State, UNC, Duke and East Carolina beats, and now is in his 11th season on the Carolina Hurricanes beat. Alexander, who has won numerous writing awards at the state and national level, covered the Hurricanes’ move to North Carolina in 1997 and was a part of The N&O’s coverage of the Canes’ 2006 Stanley Cup run.