Organizers of the Carolina Gayniacs say their goal is to bring fans together and provide a welcoming environment to cheer on the Hurricanes while building connections beyond the rink.
"The NHL really likes to say that hockey is for everybody. I personally don't believe that, but I think it should be," said Matt Parr, a co-founder of the Carolina Gayniacs. "I grew up playing hockey in a non hockey market and played all through childhood and never really felt like the rink or the locker room was a safe place for me."
Some LGBTQ fans say attending games or participating in hockey culture has not always felt safe.
"People are screaming slurs in the stadium in the parking lot," said Dana Salmon-Skjellum, another co-founder.
The group began with a simple online post from a gay Canes fan seeking others in the LGBTQ community to watch Hurricanes games together. That post quickly gained traction.
"We set up a discord with some other folks and just got going, had our first meet up two months ago and it's really just exploded," Salmon-Skjellum said.
The Carolina Gayniacs now host weekly events, including watch parties like one held at Raleigh Brewing on Saturday night, where fans gather to cheer on the team in an inclusive, supportive atmosphere.
"In just two months, I mean, we saw hundreds of people flow in," co-founder Mel Lennon said.
Organizers say the recent success of the TV show Heated Rivalry is drawing new fans to the sport, and they want those fans to know there is a place for them.
"Whether it's about the sport or not, just to know that there's people out there for you. It's really special. It's really important," Lennon said.
The group plans to continue hosting events even after the hockey season ends, with hopes of organizing a large outing at the Lenovo Center in the future.