The Carolina Hurricanes head coach gave to Mitt Romney.

Peter Laviolette, the Stanley Cup-winning coach of the Triangle-area hockey team, paid $500 to attend an Aug. 30 fundraiser for the former Massachusetts governor at the Wakefield home of Jim Rutherford, the team's general manager, according to campaign finance reports.

Another sort-of Cane at the event: NAI Carolantic Realty owner Steve Stroud, a board member of the Centennial Authority, which owns the Hurricanes' home, the RBC Center.

Former Supreme Court Justice Bob Orr, who is running for the Republican gubernatorial nomination, also paid $500 to meet Romney.

"He's an exceptionally bright guy, obviously very capable," Orr said, though he noted he has not yet chosen a Republican presidential candidate.

The event's sponsors declined to say the amount raised, though campaign finance reports show Romney raised about $23,000 on Aug. 30 and 31 from about two-dozen Triangle-area residents. If so, that's about a fourth what organizers hoped to raise.

The Hurricanes are dipping their toes in the political waters.

The National Hockey League team's announcer, Chuck Kaiton, has been making recorded phone calls on behalf of a Raleigh City Council candidate who used to be a Hurricanes spokeswoman.

In August, general manager Jim Rutherford hosted a fundraiser at his Raleigh home for Republican presidential contender Mitt Romney.

And last year, forward Cory Stillman appeared in a TV ad for Wake County's $970 million school bonds.

It seems that everyone wants a little of that Stanley Cup magic.

Mitt Romney was in the eye of the Hurricanes Thursday.

The former Massachusetts governor and GOP presidential candidate held a fundraiser last night at the Raleigh home of Jim Rutherford, general manager of the Carolina Hurricanes, Rob Christensen reports.

The Romney campaign did not permit news coverage of the event. A spokeswoman said she wouldn't discuss who was there, how many people were there or how much money was raised.

Hill Carrow, a Raleigh sports marketing agent who is the North Carolina coordinator for the former Massachusetts governor, said he had been asked by the campaign not to talk about the fundraiser.

In announcing the fundraiser several weeks ago, Carrow said he hoped to raise $100,000 at the event, which cost $500 per person.

GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney will be in Raleigh next week to raise money.

Supporters hope to raise a six-figure sum for Romney at an event at the Wakefield home of Jim Rutherford, general manager of the Carolina Hurricanes, and his wife, Leslie, reports Rob Christensen.

This will be Romney’s first appearance in North Carolina since he announced his presidential bid.

"We have a good ways to go in North Carolina,” said Hill Carrow, a Raleigh sports marketer who is Romney’s state coordinator. “A lot of people don’t necessarily know Mitt. He’s been in other parts of the country more.”

The event on Aug. 30 will cost $500 per person, although people will pay more for a photograph and a special reception.