Caniacs celebrate: Parade planned in Raleigh as Carolina Hurricanes claim Stanley Cup title
By WRAL staff
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North Carolina (WRAL) — After two decades, the Stanley Cup is coming back to Raleigh. The Carolina Hurricanes surged to the Stanley Cup with a 3-0 victory in Las Vegas late Sunday night, winning the series 4-2.
The win marks the Hurricanes’ first Cup since 2006, when head coach Rod Brind’Amour was team captain.
During Sunday night’s watch party inside and outdoors at Lenovo Center, there was celebration every time the Canes scored and goaltender Brandon Bussi blocked a shot, but it was the final goal in the last few minutes when the excitement really started to build.
Fans said the win is unforgettable.
“It just means the world,” Aydric Spivey said. “I’ve been a Canes fan as long as I can remember. This is the first Stanley Cup we get to watch, and just being out here in this environment is one of the best things … one of the best moments I’ve ever had.”
Dick’s Sporting Goods in Cary opened early, at 7 a.m., on Monday to sell pre-made Canes championship merchandise. The store was already busy when WRAL News arrived.
The Canes are scheduled to return to Raleigh on Monday evening to continue the celebrations and bring home the Stanley Cup. Gov. Josh Stein has announced a parade in downtown Raleigh will celebrate the Canes’ victory on Saturday morning, June 20.
Staal, Brind’Amour react after the game The win means Coach Rod Brind’Amour is just the seventh person to both play for and coach the same team to a Stanley Cup championship. He’s also the first to do it in almost 70 years.
After the game, Brind’Amour was asked about how this win compares to 2006.
“It’s priceless,” he said. “I wanted it so badly for these guys. I wanted them to feel what I felt 20 years ago…desperately. Because they deserve it, because I watch how hard these guys work every day and have for years, and to come up a little short, but not this year.”
WRAL News also talked to team captain Jordan Staal and his family after the game as they were taking it all in.
“We’ve been grinding for a lot longer than most people think,” Staal said. “We’ve built this culture and this organization to find ways to pull this off, and to be able to push through and do it is a dream come true.”
Sold-out crowd celebrates at Lenovo Center Sixteen warning flags are flying Monday morning at Lenovo Center representing the team’s 16 playoff wins this season the biggest win last night for the Stanley Cup.
At 5 a.m., crews were still cleaning up after the late-night celebration.
Inside Lenovo Center on Sunday night, die-hard fans watched on big screens and an on-ice laser depiction as the game unfolded. There were towels waving, drinks flying and thousands jumping up and down.
“It is crazy in here,” WRAL meteorologist Aimee Wilmoth said just before the puck dropped, sharing photos and video of a packed arena lit in red.
Outside, thousands more packed the Lenovo Center parking lot to watch on screens large and small.
The bounced, chanted and cheered through the night to root their team on to victory.
Other watch parties played out in downtown Raleigh at Red Hat Amphitheater and Smoky Hollow, at Cary’s Downtown Park and in sports bars across the Triangle.
Canes fans by the hundreds also made their way to Las Vegas, where they donned their red and black to chant and cheer outside T-Mobile Arena while the game took place inside.
At Red Hat Amphitheater, fans lined up two hours before doors opened at 6:30 p.m. for the 8 p.m. game. Seating was available in seven seated sections. Fans were also able to sit on the lawn to view the game on a huge screen hung over the stage.
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