Canes Finally Take The Ice at Carter-Finley Stadium

RALEIGH, NC. -When it comes to the Carolina Hurricanes' involvement in the NHL's Stadium Series, the word "delayed" has become unfortunately synonymous.
After all, the organization was scheduled to have played this game almost two full calendar years ago, after it was initially announced in February 2020. We know how that went.
So when the team's practice was set to begin at 4 p.m. at Carter-Finley Stadium on Friday and no one was on the ice, there was little surprise.

The delay wasn't due to the warm weather that lingered in the area for most of the day, but rather the only circumstance that would cause an issue to Saturday's puck drop. Rain.
A driving shower began approximately 10 minutes before the team was set to practice underneath the Raleigh sky, holding the team off the ice until close to 4:20 p.m.
However, after two utility vehicles with squeegee-like devices hooked to the front of them cleared the water, the team was able to get their legs underneath them outside for the first time.

"It was way better than I actually expected," Rod Brind'Amour said of the ice conditions after the skate. "We'd just come on when it got done raining and they did a great job. I didn't even realize [that it had]. The pucks were moving great. [The ice] got chewed up, but that's normal. I was really, really surprised at how well it held up."
Brett Pesce shared similar feelings on the playing conditions, and like many others in the locker room, joyfully spoke about how the experience reminded him of when he fell in love with the game.
"It brings me back to the pond hockey days as a kid," the defender began. "It was the most fun kind of hockey growing up, getting all of your neighborhood buddies together and playing. It's just really cool."
The unit skated for their standard practice time of about 40 minutes, before the players were joined by their families on the ice. It served as a reminder that while tomorrow's two points will count just the same in the standings, the weekend as a whole is meant to be enjoyed and remembered.
"The last few [outdoor games] that I've played in, I didn't have any kids yet. Now I've got three out there crying and saying that they were cold," Jordan Staal said with a chuckle, before continuing his adoration for the moment. "I'm sure they'll have some great memories of being out there and some pictures to look back on. For me, personally, that was the coolest thing to share with them."

Now the team turns its attention to the real deal, which will include nearly 60,000 fans inside the home of N.C. State football tomorrow at 8 p.m.
"I'm nervous because I want to make sure we put on a good show for them," Brind'Amour continued. "That's what this is about. It's a little give-back to the community and the people that have supported this team for a long, long time. It's to let everyone know, and I don't think it's a secret anymore, but we have great fans. They know how to watch a hockey game, so hopefully we'll put on a show and it'll be a great night for everybody."
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