Prospects Enjoy 'Special Day' With Development Camp Visitors

RALEIGH, NC. -Prospects Development Camp is billed as a week for players to learn what it means to be a Carolina Hurricane.

After starting the stretch with a few days of testing both on and off the ice and drills yesterday, the focal point of Wednesday's skate had a different tune.

Welcoming players from both Hurricanes Sled Hockey and Triangle Special Hockey, the prospects split the ice in half, taking turns bonding with the special guests.

As the smiles-per-60 ascended through the roof, it would be tough to identify a Canes player that had a better time than 2023 third-round draft pick Jayden Perron.

"I had a lot of fun and hopefully they had a lot of fun too," the 18-year-old said with a beaming smile as the skate wrapped up. "It was really special for me."

Special for Perron, indeed.

The University of North Dakota commit is an ace in situations like today, raised with a younger sister that has autism.

"You're able to see how lucky you are as a person and a player to be here," he continued reflecting. "Just being patient with them and understanding is a big thing."

Facilitating passes and celebrating goals at both ends of the ice, Perron, like a handful of other prospects, even jumped in a sled himself to get firsthand experience there as well.

Some were able to get the hang of it. Others were able to further their appreciation for the athletes.

As the Sled players carved the ice around Carolina's prospects, Kelly Jacoby, Founder of Hurricanes Sled Hockey, watched with pride from the bench area.

Kelly's son, Tyler, was the first sled hockey player in North Carolina after being born with spina bifida.

"Having the experience, just to play the sport, is great. (Especially) to have it with these prospects that are at the top of their game, and to have it kind of be a humbling experience," she shared.

First inspired to play the sport by the team's 2006 Stanley Cup-winning team, Tyler was on the ice today, working with hopeful Hurricanes of the future.

"They played great, but it was cool to kind of teach them and show them how we do it," the now 20-year-old shared after exiting the ice.

Hurricanes Sled Hockey has grown mightily over the years and the Jacoby's hope that they'll be able to see it grow more in the years to come.

"We've been encouraging others to learn about sled hockey and adaptive sports in general. The saying is that hockey is for everyone, and there are a lot of people enjoy the sport and want to get out there and play it in a competitive way," Kelly continued. "We were told a lot of what our son wouldn't be able to do, and a lot of our players have heard the same. We didn't think that was the right way to approach things. So we've always been (looking at it as) not can we do it, but how can we do it?"

That sounds like a mentality Rod Brind'Amour would certainly approve of.

Canes Prospects will round out their week Thursday at Invisalign Arena with on-ice drills beginning at 9 a.m., and then a full team 3-on-3 at 4 p.m. Both sessions are free and open to the public.

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