Charlie Cerrato Signs ELC With Carolina Hurricanes

ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN - MARCH 14: Charlie Cerrato #15 and Carter Schade #2 of the Penn State Nittany Lions go for the puck against Nick Moldenhauer #9 of the Michigan Wolverines during the first period of the 2026 Big Ten Men's Ice Hockey Championship semi-final at Yost Ice Arena on March 14, 2026 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (Photo by Jaime Crawford/Getty Images) | Getty Images Former Penn State hockey center Charlie Cerrato inked a three-year entry-level contract (ELC) with the Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday: Three c̶h̶e̶e̶r̶s̶ years for Chuck! The #Canes have signed forward Charlie Cerrato to a three-year, entry-level contract.

Details » https://t. co/uUBs0BqQvb pic. twitter.

com/CAX5cnjssu — Carolina Hurricanes (@Canes) May 12, 2026 The contract carries an average annual value and cap hit of $915,000- a solid amount for a rookie deal. After leaving Penn State following the Nittany Lions’ exit from the NCAA Tournament, Cerrato joined the Chicago Wolves on an amateur tryout. He played in one playoff game for the Wolves but did not record a point.

Cerrato is the fourth player from the 2025-26 roster to sign a professional contract, following Matt DiMarsico, Aiden Fink, and Kevin Reidler. The contract is set to expire after the 2027-28 season, when he will be a restricted free agent. If he remains at center, Cerrato is unlikely to make the Hurricanes’ roster in 2026-27.