RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Carolina Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour followed former teammate Glenn Wesley on the red carpet to center ice during Tuesday night’s pregame ceremony.
It reminded Brind’Amour what it all meant.
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The Hurricanes concluded a three-day celebration celebrating the 20th anniversary of the franchise’s only Stanley Cup season. Brind’Amour is the team’s captain.
“This whole couple of days… it refreshed me because I kind of remembered why we were doing this,” Brind’Amour said. “Twenty brothers I haven’t seen in a while, but the minute we get together – why does that happen? Because we win.”
Wesley was a defender and alternate captain on the Cup-winning team.
“It’s great to be around these guys,” Brind’Amour said. “It was really cool to see (Wesley) hold the trophy because I know how much it meant to him. I sat with that guy for a long time.”
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Watching the commemorative video played in the arena was special for this group.
“It never gets old for us,” Brind’Amour said. “God willing, I will always have those memories, that’s what life is about.”
More than a dozen players and staff, including championship coach Peter Laviolette, were on the carpet for the ceremony, but other players from the championship team have also been on hand for events over the past few days. The late Josef Vasicek was one of the players absent, but championship team member Eric Staal, brother of current Hurricanes captain Jordan Staal, paid tribute to him on Tuesday night by wearing Vasicek’s No. 63 jersey.
Brind’Amour said he is proud of the team’s high level of performance so far, scoring three third-period goals in a 4-1 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets. Columbus team members attended the ceremony and watched from the benches.
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