NORTH CAROLINA -- The state of North Carolina is generally regarded as a college basketball hotbed, but as of late, hockey has been really lighting the fuse. All four of the state’s professional teams are on winning streaks at the moment, so let’s take a twirl around the rink to get you caught up with them.

CAROLINA HURRICANES

The NHL team has found some scoring, and have stacked up four straight wins. As of this writing, the Hurricanes are seven points out of a playoff spot, with a big Tuesday night meeting with the NY Islanders on tap. The Hurricanes are trying to catch both the Islanders and Buffalo, as both clubs currently sit in those wild card spots.

WHO’S HOT: Dougie Hamilton. The defenseman has been filling the net of late, with goals in his last three games. That is the sort of production Carolina envisioned when they acquired him from Calgary.

THIS WEEK: Four pretty big games against teams currently within the playoff picture. This is the kind of stretch that can tell a team a lot about itself.

TUES: @ NY Islanders (7:00 p.m.)

THUR: @ Tampa Bay (7:30 p.m.)

FRI: v Buffalo (7:30 p.m.)

SUN: v Nashville (12:30 p.m.)

CHARLOTTE CHECKERS

The AHL team remains atop the league in total points this season, and is currently on a three-game win streak. An overall record of 27-8-3-0 has Charlotte with 57 points, nine clear of the Bridgeport Sound Tigers. The schedule has been road-heavy for Charlotte thus far, with 24 of their 38 games being played away from home. Charlotte has gotten decent goaltending from Alex Nedeljkovic (.901 save percentage, 2.72 goals against average in 26 appearances), while the team is averaging 3.4 goals for per game.

WHO’S HOT: Last week, Julien Gauthier scored four goals, while Andrew Poturalski recorded two goals, and five assists.

THIS WEEK: A light week on the schedule, as Charlotte will host Wilkes-Barre/Scranton this weekend.

FRI: v WB-Scranton (7:00 p.m.)

SAT: v WB-Scranton (6:00 p.m.)

FAYETTEVILLE MARKSMEN

If you are a hockey fan in the Fayetteville area, and haven't checked out the Marksmen, you are missing out. Currently on a five-game winning streak, the team that reminds all to “Fear the Fox,” is making the opposition do just that. So far, head coach Jesse Kallechy has pushed the right buttons to get his team back into the mix for a playoff spot. The Marksmen are 26 games in, and thanks to the recent run, have climbed over the .500 mark with an 12-11-3 record. Their 27 points have them seventh in the SPHL, however they are only two points out of fourth, so it’s a logjam in the standings.

WHO’S HOT: Defensman Travis Jeke is their leading scorer with 20 points (5g, 15a), but has been lethal on the power play with a pair of goals and five helpers with the man advantage. The Marksmen will get a lift in goal with the arrival of Christian Pavlas from the Carolina Thunderbirds. Pavlas was brought in on loan, after Dillon Kelley was promoted to the ECHL’s Adirondack Thunder.

THIS WEEK: A home and home with the Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs, who are just one point ahead of Fayetteville in the standings.

FRI: @ Roanoke (7:00 p.m.)

SAT: v Roanoke (6:00 p.m.)

CAROLINA THUNDERBIRDS

Last, but certainly not least in our rink report, the Carolina Thunderbirds who own a remarkable 13-game winning streak. Much like the Checkers in the AHL, the Thunderbirds are tops in the Federal Hockey League, thanks to a sparkling 22-3-0-1 record. Their 67 points give them a whopping 24 point lead in the standings ahead of the Watertown Wolves. Head Coach Andre Niec promised to make the playoffs in his first season (last year), and for year number two, he has designs on a championship. Right now, the Thunderbords have to be considered the favorites.

WHO’S HOT: The question should be, who isn’t. Hottest of the bunch was Pavlas, now on loan to Fayetteville. The Bratislava, Slovakia native was named the FHL’s goaltender of the month for December, after going 10-0-0-0, with a goals against average of 1.75, and a .931 save percentage in 11 appearances.

As for scoring, the Thunderbirds have seven players with 20 or more points so far in their opening 26 games.

THIS WEEK: The Thunderbirds kick off a six-game homestand, hosting the Danville Dashers.

FRI: v Danville (7:35 p.m.)

SAT: v Danville (6:05 p.m.)