We’re all set for our newest expansion team in hockey! But this time we’re not talking about the NHL. Rather it’s the ECHL that’s bringing in a new franchise in North Carolina. A franchise that has some very interesting and familiar names attached to its ownership. So as we know, a number of NHL franchises maintain affiliations with ECHL teams, such as the Jacksonville Icemen with the Buffalo Sabres, the Toledo Walleye associated with the Detroit Red Wings, and the Florida Everblades connected to the Florida Panthers, among others. And now this newest team will be, as you might have guessed, affiliated with the Carolina Hurricanes.

On X, Cam Robinson of Elite Prospects reported, “Remember that ECHL expansion team that Paul Bissonnette, Ryan Whitney, and the Spittin’ Chiclets crew bought? I’m hearing that the Greensboro Gargoyles will be the Carolina Hurricanes’ ECHL affiliate next season. Sick name. Sick logo.”

Robinson expressed his admiration for the team’s name and logo and we can see exactly while! The Greensboro Gargoyles certainly has a nice ring to it and the Gargoyle logo is really just plain cool. And for the Caroline Hurricanes, it appears to be a solid move. The new expansion franchise is linked to a prominent ownership group featuring Paul Bissonnette, Ryan Whitney, and the team from Spittin’ Chiclets, who gained attention for acquiring rights to an ECHL expansion team in the past.

The decision to partner with the Hurricanes may indicate a significant branding and development collaboration, merging the Chiclets’ hockey media impact with the Hurricanes’ emerging status as one of the NHL’s more astute front offices. So what about the team?

Not just the Carolina Hurricanes, the Gargoyles mean business too

The Greensboro Gargoyles, the ECHL’s 30th member team, are set to commence their inaugural season in October 2025. The First Horizon Coliseum will host a 36-game home regular-season schedule. In the upcoming months, the Gargoyles are set to unveil their mascot, accompanied by a range of exclusive merchandise, such as jerseys. A head coach is anticipated to be appointed in late spring or early summer of 2025.

What does co-owner Paul Bissonnette have to say on this matter?  “We’ve been talking all this time about getting involved in the ECHL. Well, it has finally happened. We are co-owners in an ECHL professional hockey team in Greensboro, North Carolina,” stated the former Canadian ice hockey player.

“I’m gonna see my role as kind of like a Jerry Jones/Lou Lamoriello. I’m gonna have my fu**ing hands on everything. I will be doing media hits. If any of these media members question the moves I’m making, they will be fired on the spot. I am going to run the shit out of this team to multiple championships. These guys aren’t getting paid unless they win.”

Bissonnette is certainly taking his new duties seriously! Regardless of whether his comments were made in humor or not, he exudes a strong sense of assurance in his ability to guide the team, much like Dallas Stars GM Jerry Jones or New York Islanders GM Lou Lamoriello. With that kind of chutzpah, we can’t wait to see what he gets up to.

Located in Greensboro, North Carolina—a city with a long hockey history—the Gargoyles are set to strengthen the sport’s presence in the region while acting as an important developmental pathway for Hurricanes prospects. The team embodies a blend of hockey tradition, media impact, and community-driven growth in one of the NHL’s most rapidly developing regions.