Charlie Cerrato's decision to play ice hockey instead of football results in NHL dream with Carolina Hurricanes
Fallston native Charlie Cerrato gave up a traditional route in football to pursue his destiny on ice—one that has now put him with the Carolina Hurricanes as the 49th overall selection in the 2025
NHL
Draft.
That decision culminated in a defining moment when the Carolina Hurricanes called his name during the second round of the NHL Draft.
Charlie Cerrato fulfilled his NHL ambitions with Carolina Hurricanes
For Charlie Cerrato, the son of longtime NFL executive Vinny Cerrato, it meant trading football cleats for skates. 'It was a funny coincidence because the 49ers are all over our house, like all of his stuff,' Charlie Cerrato said. 'I mean, 49 is a number we use a lot. So it was definitely funny seeing that.'
Charlie Cerrato's hockey journey began early—at age three, arriving on the ice in Northern Virginia after pancakes with Dad. Once Vinny's NFL days were over and the family had moved to Fallston, Maryland, hockey was still the focus. Long daily drives to top club teams in Pennsylvania and New Jersey became the routine, a sacrifice Charlie welcomed. Later, Cerrato moved from Fallston High after his first year, living with a host family in Michigan, to continue working on his game.
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That alone taught him more about hockey than he ever could have learned back home: how to live, train, and mature—several years before his peers.
2025 NHL Draft : Charlie Cerrato - 24-25 Highlights
Cerrato had initially committed to Michigan, but staff changes resulted in him opting for Penn State, where he immediately made an impact. He recorded 42 points during his freshman season, was named Big Ten Freshman of the Year, and assisted in leading the Nittany Lions to the Frozen Four.
His faceoff success rate exceeded 57%, and his play piqued the interest of almost every NHL club.
Even after sitting down with 27 NHL teams, Cerrato interviewed with the Hurricanes only once, making their selection all the more shocking.
Also read:
NHL's new rule could let Canadiens fast-track a 19-year-old prospect to AHL
Charlie Cerrato didn't do things the easy way or the family script, and that's what paid off. From endless road trips and early wake-ups to a breakout collegiate season and second-round NHL draft choice, his journey has been far from the norm. Now, with his eyes on the NHL, he's demonstrating that betting on yourself can result in the ultimate dividend.
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