At the 2023 Navy Federal Credit Union NHL Stadium Series on Saturday, Huffine, who has worked for the Hurricanes since they first arrived in Raleigh in 1997, was invited to watch the third period of the team's 4-1 win against the Washington Capitals from the bench.
It was a move head coach Rod Brind'Amour had in mind for the marquee event.
"Chris Huffine has been in this organization forever. I think he's probably the second most important person in organization because he's so good at what he does. And he never, ever gets to go watch the game," Brind'Amour said.
With the Hurricanes leading 4-0 and the game being outdoors, Brind'Amour didn't think he'd cite video of the third period very often going forward, so he invited Huffine, in his 22nd season as video coach, to watch from the bench.
"And so, game was 4-0 at the time. I'm like, 'OK, we probably don't need the video for tomorrow on the third period,'" Brind'Amour said. "And just gave him an opportunity to come out to experience that because it's not the same when you're sitting in a video room."
It was certainly a different vantage point on the game. And a unique one with 56,961 fans in attendance at Carter-Finley Stadium, the home of North Carolina State University's football team.
"That was special," Brind'Amour said.
- NHL.com Editor-in-Chief Bill Price contributed to this report.
