Each year, a crew from NHL Productions visits Raleigh to film several player features. NHL Productions shoots high-definition features on several players from each team in an effort to enhance individual team rightsholders’ television broadcasts with features about the oppositions’ athletes. It is a great way for folks in other markets to learn more about our players, and us to promote our players across the league.

Mike Sundheim

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NHL Productions likes to feature the players showing their talents or interests away from the rink. Past features with the Hurricanes included a day at Frankie’s Fun Park with Eric Staal, Bret Hedican playing his guitar, and Mike Commodore pitching from the mound at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park.

We got the first one done on Saturday, and it showcased rookie Brandon Sutter. The crew sat down with Brandon to discuss his family’s hockey heritage, the Staal’s, and adjusting to life in the NHL. But to get away from the rink, they tailed Brandon and one of his buddies as they walked across the parking lot after practice to Carter-Finley Stadium. Like many of the Hurricanes, Brandon has already taken a liking to the local college sports scene. Unlike many of his teammates, Brandon is the right age to sit in the student section.

So Saturday after practice, we headed over to the N.C. State-Miami football game (Admittedly difficult for the Chapel Hill graduate PR guy in light of recent events), where Brandon had seats in the South Endzone area to take in the Wolfpack’s big win. They shot him doing everything from cheering on the Pack after a touchdown to grabbing a hot chocolate to warm up on a chilly Saturday in Raleigh. The crew even got some footage of Brandon chatting with some tailgaters at halftime, and generally soaking in the atmosphere in and around Carter-Finley. I am sure FS Carolinas will air the completed feature, and I will try to find out if we can get it for CarolinaHurricanes.com as well.

Wednesday, we’ll shoot the second feature, highlighting forward Ray Whitney. Of course, Ray cannot possibly be highlighted enough for any number of reasons, but the focus will be on his love of classic cars. After practice and a sit-down interview, the crew will head to Ray’s house, where they will shoot him with his proud collection that includes a 1970 Plymouth Roadrunner, 1969 Chevrolet Camaro convertible,1970 Chevrolet Chevelle and 1957 Ford Thunderbird.

A few other media alerts. I will try to update these as times and details get nailed down:

• Ray Whitney will call into NHL Live, which airs on NHL Home Ice on XM and on television on the NHL Network, today at 1:45 p.m.
• Eric Staal did a phone interview with ESPN.com’s David Amber today. I will post the link when the feature appears.
• Matt Cullen will join David Glenn on 850 The Buzz on Wednesday at 4:25 p.m.
• Several Hurricanes representatives will hit the airwaves on 850 The Buzz in the next few days. I will try to update the exact times, but the callers include Jim Rutherford, who is expected to join Adam Gold and Joe Ovies on Wednesday Thursday morning.
• Brandon Sutter will be Mike Maniscalco’s guest on 99.9 FM The Fan’s Canes Corner on Wednesday night, which will be broadcasted live from Bass Lake Draft House beginning at 7 p.m.
• Also, if you didn’t see it, the Hurricanes got some nice recognition in a recent survey by Turnkey Sports & Entertainment, which ranked Hurricanes fans’ brand loyalty No. 20 in all of professional sports. So thanks for that, Caniacs.