| Eye Care Associates Storm Squad Click on a member to see their photo gallery! Profiles coming soon.  The Eye Care Associates Storm Squad was created in 1999 with the opening of the Entertainment & Sports Arena (now the RBC Center)to pump up the crowds with cheers and skits, and to facilitate in-game promotions. Since then, the Eye Care Associates Storm Squad has grown in size and popularity and is now as much a fixture at the games as Stormy, Ron the Ref, Harris Teeter VIC Card giveaways and the horn that blasts after a Hurricanes goal!  Currently, the Eye Care Associates Storm Squad can be found not only at every Hurricanes home game, but also at various public appearances, charity events, corporate outings, local promotions and the Canes Cool Bars tour. They are available for appearances at public or private functions. With the Eye Care Associates Storm Squads' charisma, professionalism and hockey knowledge, they are sure to add a lot to company events, large group gatherings or private events. Email us for details on where you can find the Eye Care Associates Storm Squad or how you can have the Storm Squad at your next event. The Eye Care Associates Storm Squad consists of young men and women from the greater-Triangle area. The team includes students at local universities as well as business professionals throughout the community. Interviews for the Eye Care Associates Storm Squad are held each year in August. This year, more than 80 people attended tryouts in hopes of earning a spot on the 2008-09 team. The prospective members were met by a panel consisting of 10 to 12 judges who work in the business operations departments for the Hurricanes. The judges interviewed and helped choose the members for the Eye Care Associates Storm Squad. The final Storm Squad members are picked based on their personality, enthusiasm, work ethic and athleticism. The 2008-2009 Eye Care Associates Storm Squad consists of the following: Anna, Ashley H, Ashley C, Catherine, Courtney, Erin, Jennifer, Maggie, Mike, Laura, Lauren, Sally, Shannon and Whitney “We had an extremely difficult decision when it came time to choose the final members of the team. It seemed that everyone who tried out possessed at least some of the qualities we look for in a potential member,” said Jon Chase, manager of promotions and fan development. “I feel like we chose the best possible squad to further our objectives on and off the ice,and I believe it’s one of our strongest teams in years.”
As always, the goal of the Eye Care Associates Storm Squad is to enhance the experience of a Hurricanes game and promote the team in the community, with entertainment and enthusiasm that can be enjoyed by fans of all ages! To find out where the Eye Care Associates Storm Squad will be in the area, check the promotions calendar found on the promotions and fan development webpage. |
The Eye Care Associates Storm Squad has been featured in various media outlets, including ESPN the Magazine, ABC Sports, the Toronto Sun, OLN, NBC and numerous others. This year, the members of the Eye Care Associates Storm Squad were also featured in their own monthly calendar. Fans were able to have their calendars signed by the members of the Eye Care Associates Storm Squad at games and other Storm Squad appearances. The popularity of the Storm Squad took off during the Hurricanes' run to the Stanley Cup finals in 2002 and continued during the 2006 championship season. They have become a favorite of opposing team's fans, the media, TV commentators and even the illustrious broadcast team from ESPN/ABC Sports.