The Carolina Hurricanes playing at the Lenovo Center.
Image Credit: Visit RaleighThere are regular-season games, and then there are nights hockey fans talk about for years. Sept. 29 in Raleigh could be one of them.
The Carolina Hurricanes will raise their second Stanley Cup championship banner before opening the NHL season against the Florida Panthers at Lenovo Center. For anyone who followed Carolina through a 53-22-7 season and a 16-3 playoff run, this is the night to see the celebration on home ice, surrounded by the people who lived every overtime, every series and every step toward the Cup.
kAmu=@C:52 H@? E96 $E2?=6J rFA :? a_ac 2?5 a_ad 367@C6 r2C@=:?2 E@@< :E :? a_ae] u@C 2 9@4<6J 72?[ D66:?8 E96 492>A:@?D 7C@> E96 A2DE E9C66 D62D@?D k2 E2C86ElQ03=2?<Q 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]?9=]4@>^9FCC:42?6D^?6HD^42?6D\E@\7246\A2?E96CD\E@\@A6?\a_ae\af\C68F=2C\D62D@?QmD92C6 E96 :46 @? @A6?:?8 ?:89Ek^2m :D 6?@F89 C62D@? E@ 3@@< E96 EC:A]k^Am
kAm%96 32??6C 46C6>@?J H:== =2DE @?=J 2 76H >:?FE6D] %96 36EE6C A2CE :D E96 52J 2C@F?5 :Ei C65 ;6CD6JD 24C@DD #2=6:89[ r2?:24D 7:==:?8 E96 A2C<:?8 =@ED 2C@F?5 {6?@G@ r6?E6C[ 2?5 2?5 766=:?8 E96 >@@5 D9:7E 2D =2DE D62D@?VD 46=63C2E:@? EFC?D :?E@ E96 7:CDE 82>6 @7 E96 ?6IE]k^Am
k9a DEJ=6lQE6IE\2=:8?i =67EjQm(9J %9:D ~A6?:?8 }:89E xD s:776C6?Ek^9am
kAm~A6?:?8 ?:89E DE2CED 62C=J] !F4< 5C@A :D D6E 7@C d A]>] t%[ 2?5 6G6CJ 72? :?D:56 {6?@G@ r6?E6C H:== C646:G6 2 C6A=:42 $E2?=6J rFA 492>A:@?D 32??6C 367@C6 E96 C62= @?6 9625D E@ E96 C27E6CD]k^Am
kAm%9:D 82>6 H:== 36 @?=J E96 E9:C5 E:>6 :? E96 }w{’D >@56C? 6C2 E92E E96 EH@ AC6G:@FD $E2?=6J rFA 492>A:@?D 92G6 72465 6249 @E96C :? 2 >FEF2= D62D@? @A6?6C] u=@C:52 2=D@ 6?565 r2C@=:?2’D A=2J@77 CF? :? 3@E9 a_ab 2?5 a_ad[ H9:49 8:G6D E96 7:CDE 82>6 @7 E96 ?6H D62D@? 2 =:EE=6 >@C6 3:E6 E92? E96 FDF2= $6AE6>36C C6D6E]k^Am
kAmqC25J %<249F< 2CC:G6D :? u=@C:52 27E6C 2? @77D62D@? EC256 7C@> ~EE2H2[ ;@:?:?8 9:D 3C@E96C |2EE96H @? 2 !2?E96CD C@DE6C wFCC:42?6D 72?D 2=C625J <?@H 2== E@@ H6==]k^Am
kAmr2C@=:?2 6?E6CD @A6?:?8 ?:89E @? 2 `eg\82>6 D6==@FE DEC62< 27E6C D6==:?8 @FE 2== c` C68F=2C\D62D@? 9@>6 82>6D 2?5 2== `_ A=2J@77 82>6D =2DE D62D@?] u@C 2?J@?6 A=2??:?8 E96 EC:A[ E92E :D C62D@? 6?@F89 E@ D64FC6 2 E:4<6E 367@C6 H@CCJ:?8 23@FE 5:??6C C6D6CG2E:@?D[ k2 E2C86ElQ03=2?<Q 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]E96C@2>C6A@CE]4@>^762EFC6D^E9:?<\J@F\<?@H\H96?\E@\3@@<\7=:89ED\?6H\C6A@CE\D2JD\@E96CH:D6^2CE:4=607a2e_35d\`b6c\ch_5\hf5d\f2c6f42c5ab4]9E>=Qm3@@<:?8 7=:89EDk^2m @C H9:49 #2=6:89 ?6:893@C9@@5 E@ DE2J :?]k^Am
k9a DEJ=6lQE6IE\2=:8?i =67EjQmqF:=5 2 u6H s2JD pC@F?5 E96 v2>6k^9am
kAm#2=6:89\sFC92> x?E6C?2E:@?2= p:CA@CE 92D 2 3C@25 ?@?DE@A ?6EH@C<] xED @77:4:2= 56DE:?2E:@? =:DE :?4=F56D >2;@C 82E6H2JD DF49 2D pE=2?E2[ q@DE@?[ r9:428@ 2?5 s2==2D\u@CE (@CE9[ >2<:?8 2 E9C66\ @C 7@FC\?:89E EC:A C6=2E:G6=J DEC2:89E7@CH2C5]k^Am
kAm$6AE] ah 72==D @? 2 %F6D52J] pCC:G6 @G6C E96 H66<6?5 2?5 FD6 $F?52J 2?5 |@?52J 7@C #2=6:89’D >FD6F>D[ C6DE2FC2?ED 2?5 ?6:893@C9@@5D[ E96? D2G6 %F6D52J 27E6C?@@? 7@C (6DE #2=6:89 2?5 {6?@G@ r6?E6C]k^Am
kAm“(9:=6 E96 >2:? 7@4FD H:== 36 @? E96 82>6[ E96 42A:E2= @7 }@CE9 r2C@=:?2 92D 2? 6?6C8J E92EVD A6C764E 7@C G:D:E@CD H9@ 2=D@ =:<6 E96 2CED[” D2:5 {@?6=J !=2?6E HC:E6C r2C@=:?6 tF32?<D]k^Am
kAmk2 E2C86ElQ03=2?<Q 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]G:D:EC2=6:89]4@>Qm#2=6:89k^2m 92D ;FDE @G6C d_e[___ C6D:56?ED[ 244@C5:?8 E@ E96 =2E6DE &]$] r6?DFD 6DE:>2E6] xE :D E96 =2C86DE 4:EJ :? E96 #2=6:89\sFC92>\r92A6= w:== C68:@? <?@H? 2D E96 #6D62C49 %C:2?8=6] u@F?565 :? `fha 2D }@CE9 r2C@=:?2’D 42A:E2=[ #2=6:89 DE:== =:G6D FA E@ :ED r:EJ @7 ~2<D ?:4<?2>6[ 6DA64:2==J :? ?6:893@C9@@5D H96C6 >2EFC6 EC66D D@7E6? E96 6586D @7 5@H?E@H? 2?5 9:DE@C:4 DEC66ED]k^Am
kAm%96 4:EJ 2=D@ 92D 2 >@C6 :?E6C6DE:?8 G:DF2= :56?E:EJ E92? E96 86?6C:4 $@FE96C? 42A:E2= =236= DF886DED] pC@F?5 5@H?E@H?[ E96 vC66< #6G:G2= $E2E6 r2A:E@= 8:G6D H2J E@ C65\3C:4< H2C69@FD6D[ ?:89E=:76 2=@?8 v=6?H@@5 $@FE9 2?5 =627J DEC66ED :? w:DE@C:4 ~2<H@@5[ H96C6 ':4E@C:2? 2?5 62C=J\a_E9\46?EFCJ 9@FD6D DE:== =:?6 6?E:C6 3=@4<D]k^Am
kAm“u@C 2 wFCC:42?6D H66<6?5[ x’5 7@4FD @? E9C66 >2:? 2C62Di {6?@G@ r6?E6C 2?5 (6DE #2=6:89 7@C 82>6 52J[ 5@H?E@H? 7@C >FD6F>D 2?5 5:?:?8[ 2?5 w:DE@C:4 ~2<H@@5 @C q@J=2? w6:89ED 7@C 2 >@C6 =@42= 6IA6C:6?46[” D2:5 p?5CéD $6CC2[ 9625 @7 @A6C2E:@?D 2E ~AE:>:D6 %C2G6=]k^Am
k9a DEJ=6lQE6IE\2=:8?i =67EjQm$E2J }62C E96 pC6?2 @C $E2J :? E96 r:EJk^9am
kAm(96C6 J@F DE2J 56A6?5D @? H96E96C J@F H2?E E@ 36 4=@D6 E@ E96 2C6?2 @C 4=@D6C E@ E96 C6DE2FC2?ED[ >FD6F>D 2?5 ?6:893@C9@@5D E92E 8:G6 #2=6:89 :ED 492C24E6C]k^Am
kAmu@C 2 DA=FC86[ k2 E2C86ElQ03=2?<Q 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]E96F>DE625]4@>Qm%96 &>DE625 w@E6= 2?5 $A2k^2m @44FA:6D `a H@@565 24C6D :? ?62C3J r2CJ[ H96C6 E96 =@33J 766=D >@C6 =:<6 2 AC:G2E6 82==6CJ E92? 2 4@?G6?E:@?2= 9@E6=] p 7F== DA2[ =2<6 G:6HD 2?5 5:??6C 2E |xrwt{x}\C64@8?:K65 w6C@?D 8:G6 E96 DE2J 6?@F89 DF3DE2?46 E@ 766= =:<6 A2CE @7 E96 EC:A C2E96C E92? ;FDE 2 A=246 E@ D=66A]k^Am
kAmk2 E2C86ElQ03=2?<Q 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]>2CC:@EE]4@>^6?\FD^9@E6=D^C5FC?\C6?2:DD2?46\C2=6:89\?@CE9\9:==D\9@E6=^@G6CG:6H^Qm#6?2:DD2?46 #2=6:89 }@CE9 w:==Dk^2m :D :? E96 >:55=6 @7 @?6 @7 E96 4:EJ’D 3FD:6DE 5:?:?8 2?5 D9@AA:?8 5:DEC:4ED[ 2? 2C62 wFCC:42?6D 46?E6C {@82? $E2?<@G6? 2=D@ ?2>6D 2>@?8 9:D 72G@C:E6D] %96 $E2E6':6H w@E6=[ pFE@8C2A9 r@==64E:@? :D 4=@D6C E@ }r $E2E6[ H9:=6 %96 r2DD@ H@C<D 36EE6C 7@C EC2G6=6CD H9@ H2?E 5@H?E@H? >FD6F>D[ C6DE2FC2?ED 2?5 ?:89E=:76 ?62C3J]k^Am
kAmu2?D H9@ AC:@C:E:K6 82>6\52J 4@?G6?:6?46 42? DE2J 4=@D6C E@ {6?@G@ r6?E6C 2E u@FC !@:?ED 3J $96C2E@? #2=6:89 pC6?2 @C w@>6a $F:E6D 3J w:=E@? #2=6:89 (6DE {6?@G@ r6?E6C] s@H?E@H? EC2G6=6CD D9@F=5 6IA64E C@F89=J 2 a_\>:?FE6 5C:G6 E@ E96 2C6?2]k^Am
kAm$E2J:?8 5@H?E@H? 8:G6D EC2G6=6CD 36EE6C 2446DD E@ #2=6:89’D C6DE2FC2?ED 2?5 >FD6F>D[ 3FE {6?@G@ r6?E6C C6BF:C6D A=2??:?8] %96 2C6?2 D:ED H6DE @7 5@H?E@H?[ 2?5 82>6\52J A2C<:?8 :D 6IA6?D:G6 6?@F89 E92E AC6A2J:?8 >2EE6CD] rFCC6?E 2C6?2 AC:4:?8 =:DED 86?6C2= A2C<:?8 2E Sed AC6A2:5 G6CDFD Shd @? D:E6[ E9@F89 E9@D6 C2E6D 42? 492?86 3J 6G6?E]k^Am
k9a DEJ=6lQE6IE\2=:8?i =67EjQm(96C6 2 wFCC:42?6 p4EF2==J v@6Dk^9am
kAm$E2?<@G6?[ H9@ ;@:?65 r2C@=:?2 :? |2C49 a_ad 2?5 96=A65 E96 E62> H:? E96 $E2?=6J rFA E96 7@==@H:?8 DAC:?8[ @776C65 2 76H A6CD@?2= C64@>>6?52E:@?D 7@C #2=6:89 G:D:E@CD]k^Am
kAm!C:>6 qq" :D @?6 @7 9:D 72G@C:E6D 7@C D>@<65 >62ED] u@C xE2=:2?[ 96 =:<6D |F=:?@ xE2=:2? z:E496? 5@H?E@H? 2?5 r@==6EE2 :? u6?E@?] ~\zF :D 9:D A:4< 7@C DFD9:[ 2?5 }@CE9 w:==D :D 2?@E96C A2CE @7 #2=6:89 96 C6EFC?D E@ 7@C C6DE2FC2?ED 2?5 D9@AA:?8]k^Am
kAm$E2?<@G6? D2JD &}r[ sF<6 2?5 }@CE9 r2C@=:?2 $E2E6 2C6 2== 4=@D6 6?@F89 7@C EC2G6=6CD E@ 42E49 2 4@==686 82>6 5FC:?8 2 =@?86C DE2J] sFC92> :D 2=D@ 9@>6 E@ E96 qF==D 7@C >:?@C =628F6 32D632==[ 2?5 8@=7 :D 92C5 E@ 2G@:5 :? 2 DE2E6 $E2?<@G6? 56D4C:36D 2D 92G:?8 4@FCD6D “82=@C6]”k^Am
kAmx7 E96 EC:A DEC6E496D 36J@?5 #2=6:89[ (:=>:?8E@? :D 23@FE EH@ 9@FCD 62DE] ':D:E@CD 42? E@FC q2EE=6D9:A }@CE9 r2C@=:?2[ H2=< E96 (:=>:?8E@? #:G6CH2=< 2?5 4@?E:?F6 E@ (C:89EDG:==6 q6249 @? E96 pE=2?E:4 4@2DE]k^Am
k9a DEJ=6lQE6IE\2=:8?i =67EjQm%96 wFCC:42?6D w625 E@ w6=D:?<:k^9am
kAm~A6?:?8 ?:89E :D ?@E E96 @?=J F?FDF2= 52E6 @? r2C@=:?2’D 42=6?52C] x? }@G6>36C[ E96 wFCC:42?6D 9625 E@ w6=D:?<: 7@C EH@ 82>6D 282:?DE E96 $62EE=6 zC2<6? 2E '6:<<2FD pC6?2 2D A2CE @7 E96 k2 E2C86ElQ03=2?<Q 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]?9=]4@>^6G6?ED^:?E6C?2E:@?2=^a_ae\af^7:?=2?5Qm}w{ v=@32= $6C:6Dk^2m]k^Am
kAm{6DD E92? EH@ >@?E9D 27E6C E96 D62D@? DE2CED :? #2=6:89[ r2C@=:?2’D E:E=6 5676?D6 >@G6D E@ w6=D:?<:]k^Am
