Bates Battaglia spent nine seasons in the National Hockey League from 1998-2007, totaling 80 goals, 118 assists (198 points) and 385 penalty minutes in 580 career regular-season games with Carolina, Colorado, Washington and Toronto. Drafted by Anaheim in 1994, the Chicago native was acquired by the Hurricanes on March 18, 1997, and made his NHL debut with Carolina on Jan. 3, 1998. Battaglia went on to play 402 games with the Hurricanes between 1998 and 2003, earning 150 points (63g, 87a) and becoming one of the team’s most popular players during its early history in North Carolina. His best NHL season came in 2001-02, when he set career regular-season highs in goals (21), assists (25) and points (46) as Carolina won the Southeast Division. Part of the “BBC” line along with Rod Brind’Amour and Erik Cole, Battaglia added five goals and nine assists (14 points) in 23 playoff games that spring, helping the Hurricanes capture the 2002 Eastern Conference Championship to earn the first Stanley Cup Final berth in franchise history.

A product of Lake Superior State University, where he tallied 94 points (31g, 63a) in 115 games, Battaglia spent time with Colorado, Washington and Toronto in the NHL after being traded by the Hurricanes in March 2003. He also played with Toronto, Syracuse and Rochester of the American Hockey League (AHL) as well as professional leagues in Germany, Finland and Sweden.

Battaglia now makes his permanent home in Raleigh. In 2005, he opened Lucky B’s Bar with business partner Mike Lombardo. The sports-themed bar continues to be a popular hot spot in the Glenwood South area.