Hurricanes News & Rumors: Staff Promotions & Additions, New Hockey Network, & More

As we head into the first weekend of September, the first installment of Hurricanes News & Rumors will begin with the Carolina Hurricanes making a plethora of announcements this past week. Between staff promotions and additions, a new hockey network, and more, the team stayed busy with what’s new heading into the 2026-27 season.

Hurricanes Announce Staff Promotions & Additions

On Friday morning (Sept. 4), the Hurricanes announced a fair number of staff changes and promotions before the upcoming season. One notable name was head athletic trainer Doug Bennett, who will step down after 16 seasons. For most fans, it was a shock to see Bennett leave. However, to go out as a champion only makes sense after all that time in Raleigh.

With the implementation of the new Emergency Backup Goalie (EBUG) rule in the new collective bargaining agreement (CBA), the Hurricanes announced that head equipment manager Jorge Alves will be the team’s EBUG this season. Alves played for eight seconds during the 2016-17 season, giving him the distinction of playing in the NHL. He will serve both duties this upcoming season.

Former Hurricanes goalie Cam Ward will have a shift in his role from goalie scout to an assistant goalie development coach. Ward will work closely to help support the growth and development of goalies who will play with the Greensboro Gargoyles of the ECHL.

Along with Ward, another former goalie will join the team this upcoming season in a scouting role. Dustin Tokarski will assist both the amateur and pro scouting groups in evaluating goalies at all levels. This will also include drafts, trades, and free agency.

Hurricanes Hockey Network

One of the first stories to come out from the Hurricanes this past week was back on Sept. 1, when the team announced the name of their new network. The Hurricanes Hockey Network (HHN) will be the new place for fans to watch the team this upcoming season. Along with the network announcement, the team also revealed the on-air talent.

It was no surprise that Mike Maniscalco will return as the team’s play-by-play announcer, with Tripp Tracy coming back as the television analyst. Maniscalco will enter his 11th season with the team, seventh as the play-by-play voice, while Tracy enters his 28th year with the team.

Fan favorite Hanna Yates will be staying in Raleigh in her new role as the broadcast and digital host. It’ll be her fifth season with the team, but her first year working directly for the Hurricanes. Alongside her will be Shane Willis as an analyst for pregame, intermission, and postgame content.

The Hurricanes will be part of 12 nationally televised games this upcoming season, with those being on the Hurricanes Radio Network with Maniscalco and Tracy. That leaves 72 games remaining to be on the new HHN for the 2026-27 season.

Hurricanes to Stream on Prime Video

The day after announcing the new HHN, the Hurricanes on Sept. 2 released an update on where fans can stream games in 2026-27. Hurricanes Vice President of Communications Mike Sundheim announced HHN will be streamed as a subscription on Amazon Prime Video for fans throughout the team’s regional territory. The regional territory spans both North and South Carolina, along with Virginia.

Per the news release, the new HHN will provide subscribers with live coverage of Hurricanes games, along with pregame and postgame shows hosted by Yates and Willis. Fans with subscriptions in the regional territory can choose a monthly subscription ($19.99) or an annual pass ($99.99).

When it comes to Amazon Prime, fans do not have to have a paid Prime subscription; they will only need a free Amazon account to purchase the HHN subscription. For fans outside the Hurricanes market, they can still watch games on NHL Power Play on the ESPN App or NHL Center Ice.

We are now officially 24 days from the start of the 2026-27 season. As we slowly count down the days, more news and rumors will come regarding the Hurricanes. Then, before we know it, regular-season games will begin as the team looks to defend its Stanley Cup championship.