April 4, 2009. This was the last time the Carolina Hurricanes clinched a spot in the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs. I was 9 years old. Last Thursday, exactly 10 years later to the exact day, they were able to do it again, for the first time in 9 seasons. I am 19 now and finally, myself and many others get to enjoy our Canes in the postseason for the first time in a long time. I was happy to be at some of those playoff games in 2009 and I was ecstatic to be there last Thursday night when they clinched.



To put it into context, here is a photo of my dad and I at the last Canes playoff game we attended.



It was April 21, 2009 and the Canes were playing the New Jersey Devils in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Quarter-Finals. It was a game for the ages that many people remember as Jussi Jokinen scored, getting past Hall of Fame goaltender, Martin Brodeur with .2 seconds left in regulation to win the game for Carolina.



Last Thursday, to come full circle, the Canes found themselves beating the Devils again, bringing playoff hockey back to Raleigh. This Canes team is completely different from the one from a decade ago. The only familiar face has since traded his skates for a suit. This would be head coach, Rod Brind’amour, who was a captain on the 2009 team. In his first year at the helm, Rod has led the team to a 46-29-7 record.



This Canes team also features a lot of young talent, led by veteran captain Justin Williams, who sealed the deal in the Canes 2006 Stanley Cup Championship Game 7 victory in Game 7. He is joined by alternate captains Jordan Staal and Justin Faulk. Faulk has been a member of the team since the beginning of the playoff drought, joining the team in 2011, he will be appearing in his first playoffs in his eighth season in the league. The Canes All-Star is Finnish centerman, Sebastian Aho who leads the team in points (83) and goals (30). Another budding star on the team is Russian forward, Andrei Svechnikov, who is younger than me, born March 26, 2000, turning 19 just recently. He was taken #2 overall in last summer’s NHL draft and has 20 goals as a rookie.



So whether you enjoy hockey or have ever watched it, I urge you, with the local team in the playoffs, to give it a chance. I really think you will come to love the fast pace, hard hitting style that the Canes play with. Over the past few years, I have attended many Canes games with one of my best friends, Isaiah. At around half of the season’s home games, you can find us in Section 106, Row Z, Seats 1 & 2. Me in seat one and Isaiah in seat two. It has become tradition. We’ve seen heartbreaking losses, blowout wins, overtime/shootout thrillers and everything in between. Now, we get to see our Canes, after all these years, in the playoffs.



Here is Isaiah and I at a NHL 100 Year Celebration event last year with the Stanley Cup. Hopefully the Canes will be bringing the Cup back to Raleigh in the not so distant future.



For those who want to follow the Canes in this year’s playoff run, head here to get all the information on game times, channels and more for the first round matchup against the defending Stanley Cup champions, the Washington Capitals.



Go Canes!



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