Rod Brind'Amour reflects on unforgettable summer after Hurricanes' Stanley Cup win

RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — After finally reaching the top of the NHL, the Hurricanes spent the offseason celebrating their second Stanley Cup championship in franchise history.

From a parade that drew more than 180,000 people in downtown Raleigh to taking the Cup across the world, filling it with favorite foods and drinks, visiting hometowns and giving back to their communities, it’s been a summer the organization won’t soon forget.

But with the 2026-27 season just around the corner, the celebrations are beginning to wind down.

For Hurricanes head coach Rod Brind’Amour, it’s an offseason he’ll never forget.

“It’s been awesome,” Brind’Amour said. “We’ve been doing this a long time, and that was our goal all along. Every year was to be the best and to finally get there.”

Brind’Amour, who won the Stanley Cup as a player with the Hurricanes in 2006, experienced the celebration from a different perspective this time around, watching the players he had coached for years finally accomplish the goal.

And that, he says, made this championship especially meaningful.

“It’s hard to put into words,” Brind’Amour said. “We’re a family. You want it so bad for those guys. It’s kind of like a dad rooting for your kid.”

Brind’Amour has seen firsthand the work that went into making the championship happen, long before the Cup was ever lifted.

“I’ve seen for a long time the amount of work that’s been put in,” he said. “It’s been every day. It’s not just game night. There’s a lot of blood, sweat and tears that have gone into this.”

Now, the focus shifts from celebrating the championship to defending it.

The Hurricanes open the 2026-27 season on Sept. 29 against the Florida Panthers, when they’ll raise their Stanley Cup banner before a 5 p.m. puck drop.

After a summer the organization will never forget, the next chapter is about to begin.

The CBS 17 Sports team will be there with live coverage as the Hurricanes officially begin their title defense.