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44 // OCTOBER 2026 USAHOCKEYMAGAZINE.COM Canes goaltender Brandon Bussi was a relative newcomer last season to the Tobacco Road area that has long been known more for college basketball and NASCAR racing than for hockey. But in his first year with the Hurricanes, the Sound Beach, N.Y., native was taken aback by the rabid support the team enjoys on a nightly basis inside what is now known as the Levono Center. "I had heard so many good things, and they just proved that everything that's talked about across the league is true in the sense that our fans love hockey," said Bussi. " Pe o p l e c a l l m e a h o m e r f o r t h e st u f f I'm saying, but it's just not bias. It's true. Raleigh is a hockey town, and it's still grow- ing, but it is a hockey town. The love and s u p p o r t t h a t [ t h e f a n s ] s h o w e d u s a n d the care during all that just proves that it is a hockey market, I'm excited to see it continue to grow into what it already is." That growth comes not only from the team's success on the ice but also their involvement in the community. Shane Willis was drafted by the organization in 1997 and played parts of four seasons with the club. When he retired in 2009, he returned to serve as the director of youth hockey and community outreach and has helped spearhead the incredible growth efforts around the state. Having a team that is consistently in con- tention for a Stanley Cup helps, as does the success of USA Hockey teams at the 2026 Olympic Winter Games. "That has made our jobs very easy," Willis said. "Kids are filling up our summer camps. Everyone is flocking to our activities because PHOTOS BY Getty Images "Kids are filling up our summer camps. Everyone is flocking to our activities because they want to be a part of the Carolina Hurricanes culture, which we've been able to build here." — S H A N E W I L L I S