When his mother, Tara, gave him a flyer about a job fair at the Lenovo Center, Wyatt Engle decided to give it a try.

Engle had attended East Carolina University for two years, but believed it was time for a new direction.

Much to his satisfaction, the move has provided excitement and opportunity for the former Towamensing Township resident.

Engle is an usher at Raleigh’s Lenovo Center, home of the NHL’s Carolina Hurricanes. The team is seeking its second Stanley Cup championship. The Hurricanes recorded a 5-3 win Tuesday night to tie the Stanley Cup Final at 2-2.

With Game 5 back at the Lenovo Center on Thursday, Engle continues to live every hockey fan’s dream. He’ll be watching a Stanley Cup Final game, and he’s also getting paid to be there.

To Engle and many other hockey fanatics, it is the perfect scenario. It’s all about being in the moment.

“This is really cool,” gushed Engle. “I often say to myself, ‘Oh, my God, I am privileged to watch the Stanley Cup Final, and I’m working here, too.’

“But this is keeping me busy and on my toes. It’s hard for me to complain about what I am doing and what I have been able to see. I feel very fortunate, and I am enjoying every minute.”

Engle began working at the Lenovo Center in August 2025, and his first event was an Adam Sandler concert. He knew it was the start of something special.

“My dad is a big Adam Sandler fan, and it was so much fun being there,” recalled Engle. “I got the chance to tease my dad about seeing him.”

Sports have long been a common bond between Wyatt and his father, TJ, a longtime Times News sports writer who relocated to the greater Raleigh area in mid-2017 to be closer to his son, who had moved there earlier that year with his mother, Tara Berger, and stepfather, Eric Berger. Wyatt, who attended Towamensing Elementary School, graduated from nearby Cary High School.

A diehard Phillies fan growing up, the younger Engle was only a lukewarm Flyers fan. However, his attention has shifted to hockey in his new home.

“Looking back, I really didn’t get into hockey, even though my dad and I were always big sports fans,” noted Engle. “I wasn’t a major Flyers fan. But once we moved down here, we started following the Hurricanes.

“This job worked out perfectly because we live about 15 minutes from the arena.”

His father couldn’t be happier or prouder of his son, who is fulfilling the dream of many sports fans.

“Wyatt has the chance to be a part of that history as a member of the Lenovo Center team,” beamed the elder Engle. “We all watched our favorite sports teams for years, hoping for the chance to see them play in that big game.

“Now my son is right smack dab in the middle of the Stanley Cup Final experience during his first year working at the well-known venue here in Raleigh.”

The younger Engle has appreciated the welcoming work culture and fan base around him, which made the transition easy.

“I have never seen or encountered a nasty or unruly fan here,” stressed Engle. “When the Rangers and Flyers are here, we are on high alert, and you see a lot of those jerseys in the stands. But everyone is really nice and respectful.

“When I started working here, I didn’t know what to expect. But from day one, I have been treated like family. It feels like I have been here for 10 years.

“There is a great sense of community here.”

Some of his most memorable moments have involved the Flyers, including their playoff series against the Hurricanes this year, a wild game against the Florida Panthers and several concerts.

“I was in Section 130, which is closer to the ice, against the Panthers,” reflected Engle. “The Hurricanes scored nine goals, and one player had a hat trick.

“It was cool to see all the hats being thrown onto the ice. I also worked some concerts on the floor, which was a great experience.”

In addition to Hurricanes games, Engle has worked concerts and North Carolina State basketball games. He also is employed at Coastal Credit Union Music Park.

The 21-year-old Engle plans to pursue a career in HVAC through Wake Technical Community College in Raleigh.

In the meantime, though, he is enjoying the ride.

“It’s been a fun time,” quipped Engle. “It’s great seeing how supportive the fans are here. It makes it that much more fun to go to work.”

His father knows his son is on a good path.

“He’s got a true work ethic and a good head on his shoulders,” beamed the elder Engle. “Sports and music have always been an outlet for my son and me over the years. So, it really doesn’t surprise me that he’s even thinking about the possibilities of pursuing a career that incorporates sports and music, or even both.

“As long as he enjoys what he’s doing, and has no problem understanding the long hours and hard work involved, Wyatt will most undoubtedly be successful in whatever he takes on.”

Watching and working the Stanley Cup Final, along with other major sporting events and concerts, could be a great start toward whatever comes next.