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36 O C T O B E R 2 0 2 6 V O L . 5 0 // N O. 8 PHOTOS BY Getty Images; USA Hockey Archive O N T H E C O V E R North Carolina Hockey Community Hopes A Second Stanley Cup Victory Will Spur Continued Growth Of The Game In The Tar Heel State // PHOTOS BY Getty Images OCTOBER 2026 $3.95 WARNING A Second Stanley Cup Fuels Hockey's Growth in North Carolina HURRICANE A Resurgence In Buffalo Brock Nelson's Tips On Adjusting To A New Team Growing The Game In The Music City 2026 STICK GUIDE 14 / Unlocking Potential USA Hockey's Mentorship Program Aims To Carve A Path For More Women In Hockey 28 / The 2026-27 NHL Season Has Arrived • Top American Goalscorers • Laviolette Ready To Write A New Hollywood Script • You Won't Want To Miss These Games 38 / A Hockey Melody The Nashville Predators Are Committed To Continuing To Grow The Game In The Music City 40 / Art Of The Pivot Brock Nelson Shares Tips On How He Adjusted To Joining The Colorado Avalanche After Playing More Than A Decade For The New York Islanders 46 / A Resurgence In Buffalo The Buffalo Sabres' Return To The Stanley Cup Playoffs For The First Time In 15 Years Has Reinvigorated The Hockey Community In Upstate New York FEATURES –BRANDON BUSSI CAROLINA HURRICANES Page 28 "If you had told me (my season) would end with a Stanley Cup, I probably would 've said you were joking." 6 / Off The Draw • U.S. Hockey Hall Of Fame Class of 2026 Revealed • Get Your Tickets For The 2027 IIHF Under-18 Men's World Championship • PWHL Announces U.S. Broadcast Deal 16 / Behind The Glass The Unsung Hero 18 / Ask Dr. Hockey Why Can A High Ankle Sprain Keep Players Out So Long 26 / Stick Guide 34 / Between The Pipes Eye Of The Hurricane: Brandon Bussi Goes From Unknown To Stanley Cup Hero Over The Course Of A Storybook Season 58 / Backyard Rink Guide 60 / Game Page 62 / Slaps Gallery 64 / Rink Rat Jack Eichel Of The Vegas Golden Knights DEPARTMENTS 2 // OCTOBER 2026 USAHOCKEYMAGAZINE.COM North Carolina Hockey Community Hopes A Second Stanley Cup Victory Will Spur Continued Growth Of The Game In The Tar Heel State DIGITAL EDITION BONUS CONTENT 22 / Dr. Hockey Mental Health The Hard Stop Reset to Managing Pressure 48 / World Cup of Hockey The U.S. Defeated Canada In A Three-Game Series To Win Gold 30 Years Ago At The World Cup Of Hockey 52 / A Look Into The Future More Than 100 Teams Participated In Youth Tournaments During The USHL Fall Classic 54 / The NAHL Showcase Is Part Of League's Core DNA More Than 300 Scouts Attend The Event To Search For Top Talent