Nothing gold can stay, not even the Carolina Hurricanes’ epic post-game victory celebrations.
Hurricanes captain Justin Williams announced on Twitter Thursday afternoon that the team’s wildly popular and somewhat controversial celebrations, that have defined so much of the 2019 NHL season, will end tonight.
“Regardless of the outcome tonight, this will be our last storm surge of the season. It has been an absolute treat celebrating victories with our @NHLCanes fans and muddying up the waters a little bit,” he said. “We’ve created a buzz again in Carolina but we know ultimately we’ve done that by winning games and playing for each other. Huge games are coming up for us. See you out there #TakeWarning
The Hurricanes started the whimsical and intricate celebrations early this season to try to galvanize a sagging fan base. With very little going for them, the Hurricanes embraced and celebrated each win with a sense of fun and personality that’s rarely seen in the NHL. Among some of the best: the duck duck goose celebration, the bowling one and who can forget dunking a basketball in honor of March Madness.
With only a handful of games left in the regular season the Hurricanes have a tenuous grip on the first wild card spot in the Eastern Conference. It’s a lead that’s far from secure and could slip at any time.
As fun as these celebrations are, it’s a smart move to quit while they’re ahead. As Williams said, the celebrations galvanized the fan base, gave the team a winning attitude and drew the attention of the hockey world. Not bad for a bunch of jerks.
