North Raleigh Today

Hockey is set to return to Asheville, North Carolina, after the destruction of its rink by Hurricane Helene. The rebuilding process has started for the city and the Asheville Hockey League (AHL), with support from the Carolina Hurricanes.

During a recent game against the Philadelphia Flyers, Canes President Doug Warf presented a $75,000 check to aid in the league's recovery efforts. "This one was one that was an easy decision for us," Warf stated at a press conference before the game. "What we're going to do is not only commit (the funds) but we're going to stand with them as we rebuild it even better."

The donation comes from the team's "Raise Up $1 Million" raffle program. The team initially committed $50,000 and matched an additional $25,000 raised by others. The National Hockey League contributed another $10,000.

Asheville Hockey League Treasurer Jay Curwen expressed gratitude for this support: "It's a great thing to have the Canes lean in and help us try and rebuild. Asheville went through a tough month," he said. "Recovering from that is going to take years."

The destroyed rink had been operational since 2000 and served around 1,800 registered members for youth and adult leagues. Players now face traveling three hours round-trip to Greenville, SC, until local facilities are restored.

Youth player Gibby Curwen shared his emotional response: "After the hurricane... just seeing the devastation, it didn't feel real... When I finally saw the rink... completely destroyed with inches of mud on it, it was just heartbreaking."

Efforts will focus on determining whether existing structures can be salvaged or if new facilities must be built at Carrier Park. Jay Curwen described some of the damage: "The scoreboard is 25 feet tall... there was part of a camper lodged on top of the scoreboard... There were trees down. All of the dasher boards were laid down."

Despite these challenges, there remains optimism about reviving hockey in Asheville. "There's kids that have never skated before in their life that are drawn to the sport," Curwen noted.

Warf emphasized their commitment: "We have fans on the Coast; we have fans in the mountains... We want them doing that in Asheville and we want to keep growing it." He also mentioned plans for outdoor rinks elsewhere as part of broader efforts.

"We don't want to see these as steps back; we see them as steps forward," Warf concluded.