Fri Oct 11 22:40:00 UTC 2024: ## Carolina Hurricanes Open Season with Heavy Hearts, Aim to Raise Funds for Hurricane Victims
RALEIGH, NC – The Carolina Hurricanes will open their regular season Friday night at home against the Tampa Bay Lightning, a game carrying a poignant significance as both teams grapple with the aftermath of recent hurricanes.
The Hurricanes, still recovering from the devastation of Hurricane Helene, which ravaged parts of North Carolina, will face a Lightning team battling their own struggles following Hurricane Milton, the third hurricane to hit Florida this year.
The Lightning, originally scheduled to play in Tampa on Saturday, had to postpone the game due to the impact of Hurricane Milton, forcing them to travel to Raleigh ahead of schedule.
While North Carolina was spared from Milton, the Hurricanes players expressed their support for their opponents and their own neighbors still dealing with the impact of Helene.
“It’s kind of ironic, we’re playing Tampa tomorrow night,” said Hurricanes player Jordan Martinook. “So it’s two teams that their states have been hit pretty hard by this…and obviously we want to play well for our state and show that we’re with all our people, and they’re probably going to do the same.”
The team, deeply affected by the suffering, emphasized their desire to help those affected by the hurricanes. Last week, the Hurricanes raised over $300,000 for Helene victims during a sold-out preseason game, and are looking to continue these efforts throughout the season.
“I know our owners donated a lot of money already, so for us, we can do what we can with our resources and helping people in need right now,” said Hurricanes player Jaccob Slavin. “I think anything we can do as an organization, as players, to try and raise money for those people that are struggling right now and trying to rebuild their lives is the best thing we can do.”
The game, scheduled for 7 p.m. at the Lenovo Center, will be a chance for both teams and fans to unite in the face of adversity.
“I feel like times of sadness, people can find relief in sports,” Martinook added. “So hopefully we can do that tomorrow night and raise some money all at the same time.”
Coach Rod Brind’Amour echoed the sentiment, highlighting the power of sports to bring people together, even amidst hardship.
“It separates the reality of what’s going on in the real world, and you can kind of get away for a couple of hours and not think about what’s going on,” he said. “And it also unites a lot of people that have differences… Everyone cheers for different teams, but they cheer for us, and it can kind of bring people together. Hopefully, it does a little.”
First Piper 