RALEIGH, NC – The defending Stanley Cup Champion Carolina Hurricanes prepare to finish the 2026 Prospect Showcase on Tuesday afternoon, hosting the Tampa Bay Lightning at Lane Arena. Puck drop is set for 2:00 PM with the game streaming on Hurricanes.com, free for fans to enjoy

Four Greensboro Gargoyles rookies made their first impressions at the NHL level on Sunday in a 4-1 loss to the Nashville Predators.

Austen May got off to a strong start, showcasing his puck-moving skating ability with composure in the defensive zone. “He showed great poise,” said Spiros Anastas, Head Coach of the Chicago Wolves and Prospect Showcase. “In situations like this, where you don’t have a lot of time with new teammates and coaches and there’s a lot of information coming your way, he was able to keep his game simple and it paid dividends for him.”

Chase Lefebvre showcased a mix of explosive speed and physicality in the opening game. The 6-foot-3, 198 pound forward generated two breakaway opportunities. “Chase showed a great burst of speed and had a great chance on the mini breakaway,” said Anastas. “He was strong on the faceoff, big body, and was physical when he needed to be with a great net-front presence. [Lefebvre and Cristall] both have good habits, they listen to the simple instructions that we give them, and gave us the bump-up shifts we needed.”

Tyler Cristall was noticeable as an aggressive forechecker. The 24-year-old got his first looks at professional hockey following four seasons at St. Lawrence University. “His line gave us big bumps in the second and third when we were trying to get back in the game. He showed a lot of intelligence with his wall play, and he’ll make a great addition in Greensboro. I was very happy with his first game.”

Oskars Briedis joined the team for Sunday’s game after travel delays held him out of two practice days. “I give him a lot of credit,” said Anastas. “He has some really tough travel, and didn’t get to practice. He only had 30 minutes of video, but he was able to play physician and show a good stick in defensive situations. I’m excited to see game two out of him with a few good nights of sleep and some proper rest.”. The Latvia World Junior Captain skated alongside one of Carolina’s top defensive prospects, Dominik Badinka, in the opening game.

Ruslan Khazheyev, the Hurricanes 2023 5th Round selection who played 41 games in Greensboro last season, played the full game and shined in the 10-round postgame shootout where he stopped nine of the 10 attempts he faced.

The Hurricanes return to Greensboro later this month, hosting the Nashville Predators at First Horizon Coliseum on Thursday, September 24, at 7 PM. The preseason matchup will mark the return of NHL hockey to Greensboro for the first time since 1999.

Single-game tickets for the 2026-27 Gargoyles season are on sale now. Opening Weekend is set for Friday and Saturday, October 16-17, when the Gargoyles host the Reading Royals. For more information about season tickets or group outings, call (336) 365-0295 or email info@gargoyleshockey.com.