GREENSBORO, N.C. — Professional hockey is making a triumphant return to Greensboro with the introduction of the Greensboro Gargoyles, a new ECHL team affiliated with the NHL’s Carolina Hurricanes and the AHL’s Chicago Wolves.
“It’s pretty special. Obviously, we’re committed to winning championships, and winning on the ice is a big part of it, as is finding the right partner, which the Canes are,” said Greensboro Gargoyles CEO Andy Kaufmann.
The Hurricanes, who have historical ties to Greensboro, played their first two seasons at the First Horizon Coliseum while their permanent home in Raleigh was under construction. Officials are working to have the Hurricanes annually play a preseason game at the coliseum.
The Gargoyles will compete in the premier AA-hockey league, marking the first professional hockey presence in the Triad since the Greensboro Generals folded in 2004. Despite the absence, the local hockey fanbase has remained robust.
“It’s all about getting to your first game right. Once you do it, it is never your last, right? So what I think has happened over time is a lot of folks went to first, then second, then 300th, and on and on, and that’s what happened here in the Carolinas,” Kaufmann said.
The Gargoyles’ inaugural season kicks off on October 18 at the First Horizon Coliseum. The full schedule is expected to be released later this month. Fans can already purchase tickets and team apparel as excitement builds for hockey’s return to the Triad.