Hockey and sports in general can be broken down into moments. Some moments are bigger than others and chart the course of a franchise and an entire league. These moments can define a team’s destiny for years to come. Last Word on Hockey’s summer series looks at these defining moments. Today we featured the biggest defining moment of the Carolina Hurricanes.
Carolina Hurricanes Defining Moments, the Cup
The Carolina Hurricanes had reached the Stanley Cup Final in 2022, but were dispatched in five games by the Detroit Red Wings. Carolina would return to the Final in 2006, but would face the Edmonton Oilers this time around. Along the way, the Canes had won the NHL’s Southeast Division and eliminated the surprising Buffalo Sabres to reach the Final.
“Whatever It Takes” and the 2006 Stanley Cup Run
Edmonton was not supposed to be there. The Oilers were the eighth seed in the Western Conference. All the bottom seeds won their opening-round series in the wild, wild west. Some thought second-seeded Hurricanes would breeze to their first Stanley Cup title as either the Hurricanes of the Hartford Whalers. This would be the first time that two teams with roots in the World Hockey Association would face off for the Stanley Cup.
The Run-Up
It looked as though that prediction of an easy final would hold up after Carolina took the first two games. The Hurricanes took at 3-1 series lead after winning Game 4, 2-1, at Rexall Place in Edmonton, Alberta. However, the Oilers would not go away thanks to a 4-3 overtime-winner that extended the series.
Jussi Markkanen would only need to make 16 saves as Edmonton would get a 4-0 victory to force a winner-take-all Game 7 at RBC Center. Fernando Pisani would also help the Oilers have a chance to get the team its first Stanley Cup since 1990.
However, Carolina rode the wave of young goaltender Cam Ward and a number of veteran players to its first Stanley Cup championship. Sports greatest trophy would make its way to Tobacco Road after a hard-fought Game 7.
The Moment
Game 7s are often filled with nerves, but the Hurricanes came out firing in that deciding game. Aaron Ward scored 86 seconds into the pivotal game. Next, Frantisek Kaberle then scored on the power play to give the Canes a 2-0 lead early into the second period.
The crowd at the RBC Center was buzzing as the taste of the Stanley Cup coming to the Piedmont was palpable. Ward continued to fluster the Oilers and keep them off the scorebard.
Pisani would score early in the third period and make the crowd a bit nervous. However, those nervy moments would wash away after an empty-net goal from Justin Williams with just over a minute in regulation. This goal would be just one of the number of goals scored by Williams in do-or-die games.
The final horn sounded that the call of radio announcer Chuck Kaiton would echo throughout the Carolinas. Team captain (and future head coach) Rod Brind’Amour would hoist the vaunted silver chalice over his head. The experiment of hockey in the Carolinas was seemingly successful.
The Aftermath
There would be some dark times in Carolina with the team missing the post-season two years in a row before return trip to the conference final in 2008-09. However, the club would have a string of nine straight seasons without post-season hockey.
The irony is that the Hurricanes (which relocated from Hartford) were subject of their own rumours. Cities such as Las Vegas and Quebec City were tossed around as possible spots for the Hurricanes. There was genuine worry that Carolinas would lose their hockey team. However, one man would help the team change its fortunes. It was also the first Cup Final of two teams that missed the post-season the year before.
Other Moments
Tom Dundon and His Bunch of Jerks
Peter Karmanos Jr. had brought hockey to Carolina, but that post-championship slump had taken its toll on the fanbase. The team tried changing out its players and coaches, but nothing seemed to work. Karmanos had been looking to sell the team and there’s worry about the future in the market. There was a rumoured deal that Chuck Greenberg was going to buy the team for $500 million. However, that deal would fall through.
Enter Tom Dundon, who would purchase the club for $420 million in January 2018 with 52-percent interest in the club. He would get complete control in 2021 by purchasing the remaining minority shares. The change in ownership would change the fortunes of the Hurricanes. Carolina became aggressive in free agency and finally made the playoffs in 2018-19. The Canes have yet to add another Stanley Cup, but this team is now a perennial contender.
The Zamboni Guy
It looked like an ordinary game between the Hurricanes and the Toronto Maple Leafs at Scotiabank Arena. It was February 22, 2020 and the Canes had already lost starter James Reimer to injury. Petr Mrazek was injured in a collision with Leafs player Kyle Clifford.
On-call emergency goalie David Ayres was pressed into service as he was on the ready in case either team needed him. Ayres was a Zamboni driver, but he became a Hurricanes legend. He allowed goals on is first two shots, but Carolina understood the assignment and gave him enough support to give it a 6-3 win.
The win cemented his status as a Canes legend and gave Leafs haters plenty of material. Ayres became the oldest goalie to make his NHL debut and made himself the stuff of legend.
Honourable Mentions
We can’t forget about other moments in Canes history. The team making the 2022 Stanley Cup Final, the first game after moving from Hartford, the shocking win over the New Jersey Devils and the Molson Miracle also deserve consideration. TV station WRAL put together a comprehensive list of great Hurricanes moments.
Stick around all summer long as we look at more defining moments from each NHL team.
Main photo by: James Guillory-Imagn Images
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