For the state of North Carolina, it’s a first.
For the Carolina Hurricanes franchise, it’s a first.
And for many N.C. State students, it’s the first championship they have ever been a part of.
After goals by defensemen Aaron Ward and Frantisek Kaberle put the Hurricanes up 2-0 going into the third period, Carolina appeared to be in an ideal position.
But a goal by Edmonton Oiler forward Fernando Pisani closed the gap to 2-1.
However, with time quickly fading, and moments after a remarkable save by Hurricane goalie Cam Ward to keep the score at 2-1, forward Eric Staal found forward Justin Williams streaking to an empty net with only a minute remaining.
Williams took the pass, raced down the ice and put the puck in the net — giving Carolina a 3-1 victory Monday night at the RBC Center and giving the Canes their first Stanley Cup trophy.
At Stool Pigeons on Glenwood Avenue, the fans chanted as the clock ticked to zero, immediately followed by numerous camera flashes. Ward threw his gear into the air, fans bolted out on to the street and at the same time, others stormed into the bar.
Students wasted no time joining the scene on Glenwood, which rapidly became a street party.
Even though Kelly Hutcherson, a senior in biochemistry, didn’t get to watch the game, she joined everyone in celebration on Glenwood following the game.
“Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to watch it,” Hutcherson. “So afterwards I went down to Glenwood Avenue and it was crazy. There were bonfires and people were going nuts everywhere. I’ve never seen anything like that.”
While some jumped over the bonfires, others found ways into the limbs of trees along Glenwood. Some found comfort inside the Hibernian or other bars in the area.
Others watched the game on Hillsborough Street. Mike Arrigo, a 2004 graduate in the College of Design, went to two of the games during the Buffalo series, but watched Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals at East Village.
“What a great experience,” Arrigo said. “I got to go to a couple of the Buffalo games. I went to East Village last night and watched the game. I cheered with everyone there, but I really think I was one of the louder ones there.”
Following the third goal, Arrigo said it was a moment he would not forget.
“The third goal was probably the most memorable one,” Arrigo said. “That put the game away and that is when everyone started going crazy.”
Mattias Davidsson, a sophomore in First Year College, decided to stay close to the game and watch outside the RBC Center.
“I was here outside the RBC Center and under a tent,” Davidsson said. “It was awesome — we tailgated, had a good time. I felt like I was at the game. It was a bunch of drunk people running around.”
After Monday night’s festivities, the official celebration was held Tuesday night. Governor Mike Easley declared Tuesday, June 20, 2006, as the official “Carolina Hurricanes Day.”
He quickly turned his speech to the performance of the Stanley Cup Champions.
“They played some good teams. They played some great teams,” Easley said. “But they didn’t have a team that could weather the storm of this Hurricane season.”
Easley was followed by John Forslund, who made statements about each player on the team. Forslund then handed the microphone over to coach Peter Laviolette.
The crowd, while allowing Laviolette to speak for two minutes, erupted into a “Let’s go Canes” cheer in the middle of his speech. But Laviolette reciprocated his care for the fans by expressing the importance of the crowd during the two Game 7 victories.
“In Game 7 against Buffalo and Game 7 [Monday] night against Edmonton, there wasn’t even a question as to who was going to win,” Laviolette said, directing his statement toward the crowd.
“Because we knew that building would be full, we knew that you would be there for us and you were.”
Then, when Laviolette finished, the much-anticipated introduction of Rod Brind’Amour energized the crowd.
After a hug from Laviolette, and amid chants of “Roddy”, Brind’Amour stood in front of the crowd outside the RBC Center.
A large smile came across his face as he started to look back on the season.
“We started out way back in September with one goal in mind — to win the Stanley Cup,” Brind’Amour said to the crowd. “Nobody believed we could do it. Nobody, except these guys and you.”
Shortly before the crowd was treated with fireworks and confetti, Brind’Amour signed off with a huge applause and said next year is already in the works — especially with next season less than four months away.
“And what do you say we go and try to do it again,” Brind’Amour said.