The Carolina Hurricanes are a professional ice hockey franchise based in Raleigh, North Carolina. They play in the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Hockey League (NHL). The franchise was founded in 1971 as the New England Whalers, and relocated to North Carolina in 1997. Since arriving in North Carolina, the Hurricanes have drafted 90 players. The 2008 draft was the 12th in which Hurricanes participated.