The Hurricanes will wear special jerseys honoring the military during pregame warm-ups. Jerseys worn by Tony DeAngelo, Brett Pesce, Derek Stepan and Vincent Trocheck will be auctioned off by the Carolina Hurricanes Foundation on Saturday, and fans can bid on them at
hurricanesauctions.org
from 9 a.m. to 8:45 p.m. The remaining jerseys will be auctioned off online, with all proceeds benefiting the Carolina Hurricanes Foundation. DeAngelo, Pesce, Stepan and Trocheck, as well as the Hurricanes' three other American players (Ian Cole, Brady Skjei and Jaccob Slavin) also purchased suite 108A for select service members and their families to enjoy the game.
The 82nd Airborne Division All-American Chorus will perform the national anthem, while the presentation of colors will be made by the First Battalion 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment 82nd Airborne Color Guard out of Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Maj. Jay F. Waidzulis from Fort 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 Sunday, April 10. Donations of non-perishable items such as 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 2, 7, 8, and 10 game days. Fans will have the opportunity to write letters to deploying or returning service members on the concourse outside section 129 before and during the game on April 2. 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 will also be announcing a partnership with the North Carolina Warriors, an ice hockey team in Raleigh that supports disabled military veterans.
