Forgotten Canes: Kevin Dineen The Last Hartford Whaler and The First Carolina Hurricane

Since their inception in 1997 the Carolina Hurricanes have all but outright refused to acknowledge their previous existence as the Hartford Whalers. However, from 1979 to 1997 the Hurricanes had another existence as the Hartford Whalers. While the team record books acknowledge the Whalers, the Hurricanes as a team have never officially acknowledged there existence. No Throwback night, No jersey sales, nothing at all. Due to this outright shunning by former Hurricanes owner Peter Karmanos players such as Kevin Dineen have become forgotten in Canes Folklore.
Having two separate stints with the Whalers (84-91 and 95-97), and only two seasons with the Hurricanes. It is understandable as to why Dineen gets overlooked in Canes history. However, in overlooking his place in team history we are overlooking an interesting part of it as well. Dineen served as the last Team Captain in Hartford Whalers history, before their move to Raleigh by way of Greensboro in 1997. Dineen also scored the last goal, and final game winner in Hartford Whalers history on April 13, 1997 beating Tampa Bay Lightning Goalie Rick Taboracci at 24 seconds of the third period of a 2-1 victory.
After the teams move to North Carolina and subsequent name change the 34 year old Dineen continued his legacy becoming the first team captain in Hurricanes History. Dineen also scored the first goal in Carolina Hurricanes history on October 10, 1997 in a 4-2 loss to the Tampa bay Lightning, Dineen put one past Darren Puppa at 19:41 of the first period.

Dineen only spent two years in North Carolina scoring 41 points (15 goals, 26 assists) while logging 202 penalty minutes, and was replaced by Keith Primeau midway through the 1998-1999 season as team captain. Primeau continued to serve as an alternate until his free agent departure to the Ottawa Senators in 1999. Calling it a career with Columbus in 2002, Dineen has bounced around the coaching ranks including three seasons with the Florida Panthers including division title in 2011. Dineen recently won a Stanley cup in 2015 as an assistant coach with the Chicago Blackhawks finally claiming the prize that eluded him throughout his playing career.

For the longest time Carolina Hurricanes ownership outright refused to acknowledge the Hartford Whalers. Fortunately the new ownership have opened the vaults on Whalers history, but you cant really appreciate Hurricanes history without acknowledging Kevin Dineen, and his contributions as the Last Whaler and First Hurricane! Thanks for reading and as always Redvolution


The Caniac Collector

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