Hurricanes raise more than $280,000 for Hurricane Helene relief

By Aaron Thomas, WRAL reporter

Raleigh, N.C. — The Carolina Hurricanes played a Wednesday night preseason game at a sold-out crowd at the Lenovo Center to help aid victims of Hurricane Helene.

The team announced two days earlier that tickets for Wednesday’s game would be the Hurricane Relief Game.

According to Doug Warf, president of Hurricane Holdings, LLC., the team raised more than $280,000 from ticket sales for the game and sold out the more than 11,000-seat arena.

The team’s efforts for victims of Hurricane Helene gave Canes fans something extra to cheer about.

“It’s a great community and a great cause,” Laurie Velez said. “Everybody loves the Canes and everybody loves a good cause.”

Parking was free for the event, but fans and guests were able to make donations at the game for relief efforts. Warf said the strong show of support speaks volumes about the fanbase.

“Our fans are so supportive, and we love that it’s a rallying cry,” he said.

While the Hurricanes lost to the Nashville Predators, many fans said they were thankful for the distraction, but it also reminded them about the importance of connection, both on and off the ice.

“We support each other,” Cans fans Troy Hicks said. “Unfortunately, disaster brings out the best out of people. It’ll be nice if we can come together without a disaster, but at least we come together for a disaster.”