About the Carolina Hurricanes

Originally it was the Hartford Whalers, which after moving to Carolina, Raleigh, took a new name of the Carolina Hurricanes. This name was given after the heavy hurricanes of 1996 in this area and particularly in Raleigh.

The Hartford Whalers started their careeer in Boston. The team got off to a good start and thus, in 1979, it was let in the NHL . Nevertheless it had never succeeded in the NHL as much as it did in the WHA. In the WHA they showed stable play, always reaching the playoff-matches, and they managed to win the Cup three times during their history in the WHA.

During their 18-year history in the NHL they fullfilled their ambitions only once and won the Stanley Cup in 1986. In fact 1986 and 1987 were their top seasons in the NHL. After that they had a downturn and in 1991 the club had to sell out their star-player Ron Francis to Pittsburgh. But that was not the only trouble because then after a few years the general manager of the Hartford Whalers left the club as well. It seemed that the things started to pick up when in 1992 the Hartford Whalers reached the playoffs. But in the first playoff-game in a stubborn struggle with the Montreal Canadiens they failed in second overtime.

In March 1997 the team moved from Connecticut to North Carolina, Raleigh, and got their new name Carolina Hurricanes. The team had to play their home matches in Greensboro for a few years because their home-stadium was out of condition and was not suitable for the games of the NHL level.

2000-2001 due to the outstanding playing of the Carolina Hurricanes seemed to be a hockey upturn in Carolina. They made down 3-0 in 5 matches straight (then the club became one of the 10 NHL teams, which managed to do it) and though they lost the sixth game they showed a marvellous hockey.

The next season was successful as well. The next few years in the NHL they got misfortune, the club had low ranks and their fans became worried about their 2005-2006 season. But Canes made a real sensation and played the most successful season in the total 34-years history of the club. They came up with a 52-22-8 record and 112 points. Due to it they made a real profit.

At first the 2006 Canes season after not very promising start made their fans believe that it would be another failure, but starting from game 3 they had winning series resulted in the second winning of Stanley Cup in the clubs history.

Nowadays the Carolina Hurricannes keep making progress, they gather a full house and show a real high-quality level of play. The fans completely confide in them and the Canes try to justify their hopes and expectations.