On Oct. 7, as the Carolina Hurricanes were preparing to begin the 2010 season, 20-year-old Zac Dalpe sat in the locker room of the Hartwall Arena, anxiously awaiting the start of his first NHL game. Just 364 days earlier, Dalpe was still a teenager at Ohio State, getting ready to start his sophomore season against tiny Quinnipiac University. Now, he was in the NHL and about to play (in Helsinki, Finland, of all places) against the Minnesota Wild.

Shortly before the puck dropped, Hurricanes head coach Paul Maurice pulled Dalpe and fellow rookie Jeff Skinner aside to remind them how significant the night would be.

“He said, ‘You only get one game in your career to be your first game,’ and it was awesome,” Dalpe recalled. “It was great to start off that way.”

Dalpe added to the evening of firsts in the second period, scoring his first point with an assist on a goal from Anton Babchuk. His point helped make the difference in the Hurricanes’ 4-3 victory.

Although he hasn’t added to his point total since that game, Dalpe is establishing himself as an aggressive, offensive-minded center on the Hurricanes’ fourth line.

And although he’d grown accustomed to being a first-line player in college and junior hockey, Dalpe is happy with any role he can get in the NHL this early in his career.

“In the NHL, it’s fun to be a rookie,” Dalpe said. “I love it every day and I don’t take it for granted.”

He can’t afford to if he wants to stay with the team.

Going into Hurricanes training camp, Dalpe faced an uphill battle to make the roster, as most throughout the organization expected him to wind up playing for the Charlotte Checkers, Carolina’s minor league affiliate. But even with little experience or room for error, Dalpe’s confidence never wavered throughout the nerve-wracking camp.

“I came to camp for one reason, to make the team,” Dalpe said. “Obviously you get nervous about being sent down (to the minor leagues), but that’s something that you can control.”

Even without scoring a goal during any of the preseason games, his relentless determination with the puck revealed shades of the offensive prowess that had marked him as a player at OSU. John Markell, who coached Dalpe during his two seasons as a Buckeye, was familiar with what the Hurricanes’ coaches were learning.

“He plays at a high speed and practices properly,” Markell said. “He possesses a good shot, works tremendously hard, he’s a good skater and he has the size to compete at that level. He has tremendous upend.”

When he arrived at OSU, Dalpe made an immediate contribution, scoring 12 goals, 13 assists and being named to the Central Collegiate Hockey Association’s all-rookie team.

His second season would be his last at OSU, but not before turning several heads as Dalpe led the CCHA with 21 goals to go along with 24 assists. When he decided to sign with the Hurricanes, who drafted him in 2008, nobody was shocked by his departure.

“I don’t think he’s fully developed yet, but skill-wise, he was ready to move on,” Markell said. “I think he’ll continue to mature physically as he plays more and more pro.”

Immediately after leaving OSU, Dalpe was sent to play for the then-Albany River Rats of the American Hockey League. Dalpe’s knack for scoring continued with the River Rats, scoring six goals in nine games.

Despite playing in only nine games with Albany, Dalpe says the experience was pivotal to helping him acclimate to the professional game.

“Playing in Albany helped a ton,” Dalpe said. “Going there, I didn’t think I was going to play a lot, but they threw me into the mix right away. I definitely had some time to learn, but it happened all at once, so I definitely think that was a good tune-up.”

Although he remains with the team, it’s likely he will be sent to the minors at some point as he continues to develop his defensive game and grow into his 6-foot-1-inch, 195-pound frame.

“It’s not the end of the world, it’s part of your development,” Markell said of that possibility. “Zac’s been fortunate enough to not be sent down yet, but if he does, he’s going to have to deal with that. Those are the things that help you develop as a pro.”

For now, Dalpe doesn’t plan on going anywhere.

“If they send you down, then that’s fine,” Dalpe said. “But I’m really happy to be here and I plan on staying here.”