Bates Battaglia, a former member of the Carolina Hurricanes’ 2002 Stanley Cup‑final squad, recently sat down to reminisce about that unforgettable season. He recalls the camaraderie in the locker room and the thrill of battling for the franchise’s first championship, describing it as the most fun he ever experienced on the ice.
At the helm of that team was current Hurricanes coach Rod Brind'Amour, whose leadership he says was instrumental in turning a talented roster into a cohesive unit. “Rod’s intensity and ability to motivate us were key,” Battaglia noted, emphasizing how the coach’s vision still resonates with today’s players.
A legacy on and off the ice
Off the rink, Battaglia has built a different kind of legacy in Raleigh’s Glenwood South district, where he and his brother opened the bars Teets and Lucky B’s, establishments that pay homage to his family’s past. His grandfather, Sam Battaglia, was a Chicago figure with organized‑crime connections, a chapter of history that Battaglia acknowledges but keeps at a respectful distance.
Despite the shift from professional hockey to entrepreneurship, Battaglia says his heart remains with the Hurricanes. He expresses pride in the team’s dedicated fanbase and hopes the franchise can capture another Stanley Cup, a goal that would complete a full‑circle story for the man who once skated beside stars like Erik Cole and helped lay the groundwork for future success.