Bates Battaglia: More than just the hockey player from the Amazing Race.

When I told my beautiful wife that this weeks blog post would be on hard-nosed Canes Left-Wing and part of the famed BBC Line Bates Battaglia, she gave me the adorable look she always does thats says "good for you" while going about her business of wondering what type of overgrown ten-year old she married. However, being the amazing wife she is she humored me and when I showed her the picture of Bates and kid brother Anthony Battaglia she immediately remembered them from Season 22 of the Amazing Race. (pictured below)
However to the members of the Redvolution Bates Battaglia is remembered as 1/3 of the BBC Line that carried a 3 seed Canes team to the 2002 Stanley Cup Final. The Illinois Native was drafted in 1994 by the then Mighty Ducks of Anaheim in the sixth round. In 1997 he was traded to the then Hartford Whalers. After having a successful 1997-1998 season in New Haven of the AHL, Battaglia joined the Inaugural Canes roster, and began his NHL career.

Playing in 402 games over the next six seasons, Bates established himself as a power forward ringing up 150 points in 402 games as a Hurricane. Never one to shy away from the rough play, Battaglia spent 279 minutes in the penalty box including 90 during the 2002-2003 season. His most Famous run came on the 2002 Eastern Conference Championship while he shared a line with Rod Brindamour and Eric Cole.After stunning the heavily favored Red Wings 3-2(OT) in Game 1 in Detroit Carolina lost the next 4 in a row including a Triple Overtime heart breaker in Raleigh in Game 3. Midway through the following Season he was traded to the Colorado Avalanche for Radim Vrbata, ending his tenure with Carolina and breaking up the BBC Line for good.

Since retiring from hockey in 2012 and winning The Amazing Race in Season 22, Battaglia has opened Lucky B's Bar in  in Downtown Raleigh and remains active within the community. Years have past since the magical cup run but to Caniacs everywhere Bates Battaglia will always be remembered for his part in a magical season and MUCH more the just that hockey player from The Amazing Race !


Thanks For Reading and Redvolution,
The Caniac Collector


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