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The One With All of the Goalies: Carolina Hurricanes Announce Staff Changes Ahead of 2026-27 Season

Sportsnaut · Rachel Barkley · 2026-09-04T22:26:07+00:00 · nguồn gốc

Friday morning, the Carolina Hurricanes announced a heap of role changes, additions, and departures (well, departure – as in singular) for the organization. Head Athletic Trainer, Doug Bennett, Leaves Hurricanes Organization The one leaving the Hurricanes organization is Head Athletic Trainer Doug Bennett. While he has been with the Hurricanes for 16 years, he has held the top role for the past nine years, essentially serving as the medic on the bench – always the first to run to the ice when injuries occur. Donnie Fuller, a new addition, will take Bennett’s place, with over 18 years of experience as head athletic trainer in his career – 16 years in the role with the Minnesota Wild, and two and a half years with USMNT. Additionally, Yuji Katsuta – who has spent 16 years as a collegiate athletic trainer, including eight years with Duke University – has joined the Hurricanes as an assistant athletic trainer and massage therapist. Goalies…Goalies Everywhere In goaltending news, the Hurricanes unsurprisingly gave the role of emergence backup goaltender – which became mandatory for every team to have going into this season, per the collective bargaining agreement – to Jorge Alves. Alves, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran and former professional goaltender in the SPHL and ECHL, has spent 23 years with the organization as an equipment manager, and 14 as the head equipment manager. In 2016, he suited up for 7.6 seconds of glory, serving as a backup goaltender for the Hurricanes in the absence of Eddie Lack, who was out with a concussion. Two more goaltenders gained new positions in the organization, as well. Cam Ward, who had served as a goalie scout, has been promoted to an assistant goalie development coach, where he will oversee Hurricanes prospects loaned to the Greensboro Gargoyles. Furthermore, Dustin Tokarski – or ‘Tick’ as he was often referred to – has been hired as an amateur and professional goaltending scout for the Hurricanes. Tokarski played six games with the Hurricanes in the 2024-25 season, running and gunning with Spencer Martin during the injuries of starters Pyotr Kochetkov and Frederik Andersen. In Other News The organization also saw other notable changes. In the communications department, Madison White was promoted to Senior Manager of Communications, Sidney Binger was hired as Manager of Communications, and Trent Warren was promoted to Communications Coordinator. For the Chicago Wolves, RJ Enga was hired as an Assistant Coach, and Gehrig Sarosy was hired as a video coach. Additionally, Zach Ellenthal was promoted as a full-time Pro Scout.