The list of hockey players born in the great state of North Carolina to reach the NHL is small. In the league's expansive history, only six players from The Tar Heel State have made it to the big dance. Four of those players were born in Raleigh while their fathers played for the Hurricanes, while Jared Boll (Charlotte) and Ben Smith (Winston-Salem) are the exceptions.
Making it to the national is a hard task, but one North Carolinian got a step closer on Tuesday after signing an AHL contract with the Chicago Wolves. While the deal is exclusive to the Wolves, meaning the Canes hold no power over his contract, it's a cool moment that could lead to something even cooler somewhere down the line.