Brind'Amour, Price and Yow named to N.C. Sports HOF

Carolina Hurricanes standout Rod Brind'Amour and the late Ray Price headline the 2016 class of the N.C. Sports Hall of Fame.

Brind’Amour played 20 seasons in the NHL before retiring as a player in 2010. Drafted by the St. Louis Blues, Brind’Amour came to the Hurricanes in 2000. He ranks third in franchise history(including Hartford) in assists, fourth in points and fifth in games played. He is currently an assistant coach for the 'Canes and will become the second hockey player inducted into the N.C. HOF, after Ron Francis was selected in 2013.

Price, who died Dec. 16, became a legend in the North Carolina motorcycle drag racing scene and then a notable figure as the owner of Ray Price Harley-Davidson in Raleigh.

According to a TBJ profile in 2000, Price fell in love with Harley motorcycles at age 9 and enjoyed racing, as well. He grew the business on South Saunders Street from a small shop to one of the top Harley dealerships, cashing in on affluent Baby Boomers’ fascination with the bikes in the fast-growing Triangle region.

“If I sell the business and quit racing, I’ve got two options,” he told TBJ. “One is to sit around and do nothing, which I’m not inclined to do, and the other is to get involved in something else. I don’t see the sense in getting involved in something new when this business is what I love.”

Other 2016 inductees include Eric "Sleepy" Floyd, David Fox, James "Rabbit" Fulghum, Antawn Jamison, Haywood Jeffires, Freddy Johnson and Susan Yow.

“The achievements of this year’s class of inductees enrich North Carolina’s remarkable sports heritage, and they certainly earned the honor of joining the 319 men and women who have been previously enshrined,” said Fredrick Reese, president of the N.C. HOF, in a statement. “This is our 53rd class, and we look forward to celebrating this special time in our state’s sports history."

Article courtesy Triangle Business Journal