I tried to get as much sleep the night before, but it wasn’t easy. I tried to take a 30 min nap before I left for the event, but that wasn’t happening either. I simply was too wound up. You see, what started as an amazing surprise 10th Anniversary gift from my beautiful wife, was now here and a reality. My day to play with Ex-NHLers in the Carolina Hurricanes Fantasy Alumni game for charity was here and I could not wait for it to get started.

The Day started like most Sundays of late. We had to get up a bit early to head to my son, DJ’s hockey game. It was only his second game ever as a u8 player and he was raring to go. He managed to net 2 in an exciting game up at the Wake Forrest Ice House. (U8 hockey is like watching little kid soccer, everyone goes for the puck at all times and whoever can remain on their feet comes away with the puck and a good scoring chance) Then it was the drive home for a small snack and double check my bag to make sure I wasn’t forgetting anything when I got to the PNC Arena. Before I knew it, it was around noon and time to head to the Arena to start the day. I gave the kids and Mrs. a kiss and left them at home coloring in the signs they would bring to the game (my daughter was REAL into it which made my heart just melt watching her color in the red hurricanes squares at the bottom of the sign).

Right at 12:30 I arrived at the PNC center, to the back players entrance and was already feeling like a king. The attendant waved me to the walled in parking and we were greeted by Doug Warf (asst marketing for canes and for Kids N Community Foundation). Doug was awesome the whole day at directing us and generally pumping us up and making all of us feel welcome (Thanks Doug!). Once I got into the building through the players entrance I started down the hallway. I immediately got goosebumps as I saw the Canes symbol on the floor down one hall, then the Canes flag down the next hall….. edging closer and closer to the Canes locker room where our locker/stalls were waiting for us all. As I rounded the corner I saw some guys hanging out all smiles and then I proceeded to look around the room. It was all surreal. I couldn’t believe my eye and how great it felt. I was going to be changing here (I know I am a broken record but can you tell I was/and am excited about this event?) amongst some of the greatest players ever to lace up skates in the NHL.

Then I noticed something. Huh? Where is my locker? I was casually trying to scan around the room to see where guys where and where they pros were. The pros were all prolly where they once sat in this very room, and Mr. Henry Staal was likely in his son’s (Eric) locker space. But, again where was mine? I couldn’t find it. I was trying to act cool, but deep down I was shivering, I haven’t been here one minute and I felt like I screwed something up already. Then I turned around and AHHHHH there it was. I just happened to be the very FIRST locker as I entered the room. For whatever reason I just walked by it when I was looking around. Yet, the BEST part of all was seeing the most amazing sight of the day. MY jersey hanging up in MY locker, like it was supposed to be there all along. All was at ease and it was time to start the big day. So I unpacked my gear and took a few pictures of the room and the inner workings of the behind the scenes of the Canes. Things you don’t see every day, like the trainers room, the stick room, the sharpening station. I then just went out the door where the Canes room joins to the ICE, where the Cane rush onto the ice every night. A few of us just hung out on the bench and took it all in. It was an eerie quiet, yet a gentle one as well. All four of us on the bench  could just tell what we were thinking WOW. We remarked how glass smooth the ice was and how cool it was to see the jumbo tron this close. We all had a nervous energy about us and no one was yet at ease. But about 15-20 mins later that would all change. When (My fav all time Cane) Rod Brind’Amour came into the locker room, he went around to each and EVERY participant and shook their hand and introduced himself. He took a couple of mins with each guy and made us feel welcome. Right after him Ron Francis did the exact same thing. There was something about these gestures from two of the greatest Hurricanes, no, two of the greatest NHLers! ever to play the game which seemed to put the guys at ease. We all of a sudden started to chat a bit in the room. We let our guard down and started to meet each other and exchange names etc, right up until it was time to hit the ice for warm ups.

But before warm ups Shane Willis, who organized the event and a damn good NHLer in his own right, came walking into the room saying “Get ready boys, looks like a packed house, we just had to open up a few more sections!” Holy cow, more?!?! They orig were going to just have the east side open at center ice, but now they opened a few more sections. Spilling over to the area behind the white team goal. This place had the very big possibility to get LOUD tonight. Then it was time to hit the ice. We all lined up to head out for warm ups in the hall leading to the ice. Tripp Tracy, long time color man for the Canes and the white goalie lead us out. Being pretty close to the front I was going to be one of the first few Red players to the ice for the warm ups so I wanted to make a good entrance. One which would get us and the fans fired up. I hit the ice in stride and sprinted as hard as I could to the far boards and made that turn to head to the net. People were going crazy and this was the first time I could feel the ROAR and energy of the crowd starting to get us fired up to play.

Warm ups were quite a blast. I got to get a few laughs in with Henry Staal, and with Aaron Ward. As well as somehow being able to uncork some decent shots. My first shot was a blast, but was about 5 feet wide left and I thought it was going to be a long day haha. But, I rebounded and put some nice shots on net, and scoring some on them, which always helps to get  your confidence up in the pre-game. Once basically all the pros were gone I tried to help organize some more drills for the remaining guys, grabbing some pucks in the corner and doing some passing to one-timers drills for those of us who were left. Most of the passes were spot on and some guys were getting off some GREAT shots so it seemed we ALL were feeling that adrenaline rush. After this I was about to head off the ice to rest for the big game (after all you can’t leave it ALL on the ice for warm ups) when Canes announcer, and emcee for the day, Mr. John Forslund grabbed me for a pre-game interview. This was yet ANOTHER great way we all felt like pros for the day. Johnny grabbed each and every one of us at some point in the day and did a decent length interview. I felt like I was being asked how the team was going to do headed into the playoffs! Another great guy Mr. Forslund and a class act. He took time before the game to learn our names, how to say them, and some trivia about us. He seemed to have it all down perfect, interjecting it throughout the game as if we were all on the team for years and years.

Not to get ahead of myself but there is just something AMAZING about grabbing the puck and skating up the ice and hearing Forslund announcing your name to the entire crowd. So awesome.

The Pep Talk

So it was time for the pre-game speech. Canes Assistant coach, Dave Lewis had asked a special friend from back in Detroit to come join us and give us a pre-game pep talk. The lad did an EXCELLENT job and you could see all the boys smiling and enjoying his Herb Brooks like speech 100%.

It was now time…. time for the pre-game intros and time to get serious. Don’t do anything dumb, don’t make any bad passes, keep the puck out of the middle of the ice, was all I could think of. After all being a D-man with 2 killer former Canes, Aaron Ward and Steve Halko, I couldn’t let them down. I couldn’t let down the fam. Nope this was my day to play my heart out and my day to skate with the pros.

Check in later in the week when I finish up with PART 2 of “My Day as a Hurricane” covering the game itself and the aftermath.

–GeekJock

#19 Red Team

Couple more pics

I think Joe was telling Jesse "I am glad you're on my team"

My Daughter's awesome sign for Daddy!

Hanging on the bench with the guys pre-game

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