The Hurricanes will wear special jerseys honoring the military during pregame warm-ups. Jerseys worn by Brett Pesce, Brady Skjei, Jaccob Slavin and Vincent Trocheck will be auctioned off by the
Carolina Hurricanes Foundation
during the game. The remaining jerseys will be
auctioned off online
, with all proceeds benefiting the Carolina Hurricanes Foundation.
New this season, Carolina Hurricanes players will also wrap their sticks with special hockey tape for pre-game warm-ups. The hockey tape will feature the names of 30 soldiers from the North Carolina National Guard who have also been helping at PNC Arena's mass vaccination site. Together, the soldiers represent the 30th Armored Brigade Combat Team, which recently returned from a deployment to Kuwait, the 113th Sustainment Brigade and the 130th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade. The Airmen on-site represent the 145th Air Wing. Used sticks will be autographed and auctioned off via NHL Auctions at a later date.
Specialist Grant Barker, currently serving in the 82nd Airborne Division Band, will perform the national anthem, while the presentation of colors will be made by the 82nd Airborne Color Guard out of Ft. Bragg, N.C. Due to current NHL protocols, an actual ceremonial puck drop was not possible. However, paratrooper Staff Sgt. Robert Dowell from Ft. Bragg's 82nd Airborne Division jumped with an official game puck during a training run before the game.
Coinciding with this year's Military Appreciation Game, the Hurricanes are hosting a
Military Appreciation Drive
through Saturday, April 17. Donations of granola bars, beef jerky, candy and gum will be accepted at the VIP entrance of PNC Arena during normal business hours and at all entrances on April 15 and April 17 game days. All donations will benefit the USO of North Carolina, and fans who donate any of the above items will be entered for a chance to win select prizes.
The Hurricanes' partner and sponsor of Military Appreciation Night, celito, has also graciously provided tickets to Thursday's game to preselected members of the military and their families.
The Hurricanes host the Nashville Predators at PNC Arena at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday. Learn more about
Hurricanes ticket options
.
