Early in his career, Cole played high school ice hockey for the Oswego Buccaneers in his hometown of Oswego, New York. He was then drafted by the Des Moines Buccaneers of the United States Hockey League (USHL) after a family friend based out of Des Moines, Mark Pierce, had multiple scouts take a look.[citation needed] He played one season in the USHL, in 1996–97, playing in 48 games for the Buccaneers and scoring 30 goals and 34 assists for 64 points.\n', '

Cole then attended Clarkson University in Potsdam, New York, where he played college hockey for the Golden Knights ice hockey team in the NCAA\'s ECAC conference. At the end of his first season, he was then selected by the Carolina Hurricanes in the third round, 71st overall, at the 1998 NHL Entry Draft. Cole would play two more collegiate seasons with the Golden Knights, departing in 2000.\n', '

In the 2001–02 season, his rookie year, Cole scored six goals during the 2002 Stanley Cup playoffs. Additionally, he was one-third of the "BBC Line," which also featured Bates Battaglia and Rod Brind\'Amour, during the Hurricanes\' Stanley Cup run in 2002.\n', '

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