Erik Cole is Back! Popular Carolina Hurricanes Player Returns to the Triangle

I don't normally blog about sports, but I couldn't resist the chance to post my family's excitment about the return of a very popular Carolina Hurricanes player so many local kids loved: ERIK COLE. That's right, he's back! The News & Observer reported the following in today's paper:

In a deal that took some by surprise Wednesday, the Canes used a three-way trade involving the Oilers and the Los Angeles Kings to obtain Cole. In exchange, Carolina dealt away oft-injured forward Justin Williams, another fan favorite who has been sidelined 33 games this season with a torn Achilles tendon and more recently a broken hand.

I met Erik in June 2006 after the Stanley Cup win when the magazine I was editor for at the time, Wake Living, featured Erik in an article written by our very own Sports TRACKer, Kurt Dusterberg. I even got to hold on to his hockey sticks during the photo shoot (see below photo). I also met his lovely wife, Emily, when I interviewed her and some of the other Hurricanes' wives for an article in the following issue of Wake Living. They are both warm, wonderful people and I'm certain our community will welcome them back with open arms.

Read more from the N&O here.

Above: Stu Weiss (CEO of Weiss & Hughes Publishing), Erik Cole and me!
Below: Me holding Erik's famous hockey sticks.
Photos taken by Gregory Georges.

14 Things TRACK 4 Families Can Do Before Tracking Back In Oct. 20

Get your calendars out and visit the October Calendar TRACKS to get the details on all of these events.

1. NEW HOPE VALLEY RAILWAY TRAIN RIDES
New Hope Valley Railway and N.C. Railroad Museum, New Hill
Train rides take place the first Sunday of each month through November.

2. NEW MOVIES RELEASES
"Beverly Hills Chihuahua." Oct. 3. Click here to learn more.
"High School Musical 3: Senior Year." Oct. 24. Click here to learn more.

3. LETTERBOXING. See blog post about this fun anytime-outdoor activity.

4. 2008 NORTH CAROLINA STATE FAIR
Oct. 16-26, N.C. State Fairgrounds in Raleigh.

5. FALL PUMPKIN AND HARVEST FESTIVAL AT HILL RIDGE FARMS
Sept. 13-Nov. 9 in Youngsville.

6. OPENING OF WORLDTREK
Marbles Kids Museum
Exhibit opens Oct. 8. Guests are transported to several exciting locales around the world to engage in hands-on exploration of commerce, culture, arts, music and more.

7. SOUNDSPACE: HEAR MOTION
Museum of Life and Science
Through October 2008.

8. WAM! MAGIC TRICKS
Marbles Kids Museum
Oct. 15
Session: 1 10–10:50 a.m. (ages 5-7)
Session 2: 11–11:50 a.m. (ages 8-11)
Just in time for Halloween, join Marbles Kids Museum for a spook-tacular workshop to learn fantastic magic tricks.

9. WAM! HOLIDAY COOKING
Marbles Kids Museum
Oct. 15, 10-11:50 a.m.
Bring the family and create holiday goodies.

10. 2008 TOUR OF GYMNASTICS SUPERSTARS
Oct. 19, 4 p.m. RBC Center

11. DEAD SEA SCROLLS ON VIEW AT N.C. MUSEUM OF NATURAL SCIENCES
Through Dec. 28.

12. Attend a free open Carolina Hurricanes Practice. Click here for this week's schedule.

13. Celebrate "No Child Left Inside" with the Museum of Life and Science During Earth Science Week, Oct. 12-18

14. Check out "Kung Fu Panda," "Wall-E" and "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull" for $1.50 at Blue Ridge Theater in Raleigh.

Caniac Carnival Set for Sept. 21

Bring the kids out to the RBC Center Sunday, Sept. 21 from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. for the Carolina Hurricanes annual Caniac Carnival. Parking and admission to the event are free of charge and the carnival will feature rides, interactive games, a designated sports zone, a TNT Freestyle Motocross show, live music, an autograph session with select Hurricanes players, and more. Click here for more information.