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Doug Bennett is in his 14th season with the Carolina Hurricanes, and his seventh as head athletic trainer. As head athletic trainer, Bennett is responsible for the design and implementation of injury prevention strategies, the evaluation and treatment of medical issues and the rehabilitation of injuries. Bennett works closely with the Hurricanes’ team physicians and strength and conditioning coach to ensure the safety and well-being of the Hurricanes’ players at all times.
Bennett served as the team’s assistant athletic trainer for seven seasons, from 2010-17, before being promoted to head athletic trainer. Prior to joining the Hurricanes full time, he gained experience working with athletes at both the professional and collegiate levels. He served in the athletic department at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, while also assisting the Hurricanes as an intern/gameday athletic trainer during the 2009-10 season. A native of Johnstown, Pa., Bennett spent one season as the head athletic trainer for the Johnstown Chiefs (ECHL) in 2004-05. He also gained experience in the National Football League, working with the Seattle Seahawks in 2003, and the Philadelphia Eagles in 2006. Bennett spent one year as the assistant athletic trainer at Penn State University, working with the football program.
Bennett is a Certified Athletic Trainer, a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) and a Performance Enhancement Specialist (PES). He is also a member of the National Athletic Trainers Association (NATA) and the Professional Hockey Athletic Trainers Society (PHATS). In 2007, he earned his Master’s degree in Exercise and Sport Science with an emphasis in Athletic Training from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Bennett earned his undergraduate degree in Kinesiology from Penn State University in 2004.
Bill Burniston is in his eighth season with the Hurricanes full time, and his seventh as head strength and conditioning coach. Burniston served as assistant strength coach and fascial stretch therapist in 2016-17, after working for the Hurricanes on a part-time basis from 2013-16.
Burniston has more than 25 years of experience in the areas of injury prevention and athletic enhancement. In addition to his work with the Hurricanes, the New Jersey native has also served as the strength and conditioning coach for USA Baseball’s collegiate national team. He is one of the founding partners of The Performance Academy in Apex, N.C., a facility dedicated to the strength and conditioning of athletes.
Burniston received his B.S. in education from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, where he worked with the school’s sports medicine team. He earned his Master’s degree from Seton Hall University. Burniston is a Certified Athletic Trainer (ATC) by the National Athletic Trainer Association (NATA) as well as a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) by the National Strength and Conditioning Association. His certifications also include Performance Enhancement Specialist (PES) from the National Academy of Sports Medicine and Flexibility Specialist (Level 3 Medical) from the Stretch to Win Institute.
Matt Aiello is in his fourth season as assistant athletic trainer for the Carolina Hurricanes, after serving as the head athletic trainer for the Charlotte Checkers of the American Hockey League (AHL) for the 2019-20 season.
Aiello joined Charlotte after spending the 2018-19 season as an assistant athletic trainer with the Hartford Wolf Pack (AHL). Prior to that, he spent two seasons as the head athletic trainer for the ECHL’s Greenville Swamp Rabbits, earning the ECHL Athletic Trainer of the Year Award in 2017-18. An Illinois native, Aiello served as the head athletic trainer for five seasons in Bloomington with the USHL’s Thunder (2014-16), the SPHL’s Thunder (2013-14) and the CHL’s Blaze (2011-13).
Mike Maresca is in his fourth season with the Carolina Hurricanes as massage therapist.
Prior to joining the Hurricanes, Maresca served as massage therapist for the Syracuse Crunch of the American Hockey League (AHL) during the 2019-20 season. Maresca also gained experience at The Spa at 500, Art of Massage, New York Spine and Wellness and Massage Envy.
Maresca graduated from Coker College in 2014 with a Bachelor of Arts in physical education and earned his certification in Therapeutic Massage and Hydrotherapy from the Finger Lakes School of Massage in 2016.
Nick Mahaffey is in his 2nd season with the Carolina Hurricanes as Coordinator of Rehabilitation & Sport Science/Physical Therapist. Mahaffey is responsible for organizing the Hurricanes’ sport science initiatives and developing and managing rehabilitation programs for players. He works closely with the Hurricanes’ athletic trainers, massage therapist, strength and conditioning coach, and team physicians to provide the best medical care for the Hurricanes’ players at all times.
Prior to joining the Hurricanes full-time, Mahaffey gained experience working with athletes at both the professional and collegiate levels. He worked with the Dallas Stars medical staff during the 2019-20 season as a part of the University of Texas Southwestern’s Sports Physical Therapy Residency program. He also served in the athletic department at Duke University, working with the football program, and assisted the Hurricanes as an intern/gameday assistant during the 2016-17 and 2017-18 seasons.
Mahaffey is a licensed Doctor of Physical Therapist (DPT), certified Sports Clinical Specialist (SCS), and Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS). He is also a member of the American Academy of Sports Physical Therapy (AASPT) and the Professional Hockey Athletic Trainers Society (PHATS). In 2019, he earned his Doctorate degree in Physical Therapy from Duke University. Mahaffey earned his undergraduate degree in Exercise Science from Appalachian State University in 2014.
