When NHL Central Scouting released its watch list for the 2013 draft, one local name snuck onto the list. Cary's Sean Romeo, an alumnus of the Junior Hurricanes program who is playing for Youngstown of the U.S. Hockey League this season, made it as a 'C' goaltender.

While North Dakota-bound defenseman Charlie Pelnik is still leading the race to become the first North Carolina-trained player to be drafted by the NHL, Josh Wesley isn't far behind.

The 15-year-old son of former Hurricanes defenseman and current front-office executive Glen Wesley will become the first North Carolina player to join USA Hockey's National Team Development Program next fall, yet another milestone for the growth of hockey in the Triangle.

“It’s a huge honor for me, just growing up looking at the USA Hockey magazines and being a kid, looking at Team USA,” Josh Wesley said. “It’s always been a dream of mine to be there. It’s a huge honor for me.”