Lightning, Canes know all about the devastation of hurricanes

Friday’s game for the Carolina Hurricanes at Lenovo Center carries all the usual excitement for the start of a new season — this time with hurricane victims in North Carolina and Florida at top-of-mind.

A new slate, fresh sheet of ice, 0-0 record and different namesake across the arena are all indicators of the 2024-2025 campaign for the home team.

The Canes’ opponent, the Tampa Bay Lightning, are fighting for a hometown battered by another hurricane.

On Thursday night, Hurricane Milton became the third hurricane to hit Florida this year, weeks after Hurricane Helene, which also brought devastation to North Carolina.

Friday’s season opener brings an interesting set of coincidences. The Lightning left Tampa ahead of schedule on Wednesday because of an oncoming hurricane to play the Hurricanes in a state that’s still feeling the effects of a devastating, separate hurricane.

North Carolina was spared from Milton, but Canes’ players are feeling for their opponents from Florida — and for their western North Carolina neighbors struggling to move on from Helene.

“It’s kind of kind of ironic, we’re playing Tampa tomorrow night,” Hurricanes player Jordan Martinook said. “So it’s two teams that their states have been been hit pretty hard by this … and obviously we want to play well for our state and show that where we’re with all our people, and they’re probably going to do the same.”

Hurricanes player Jaccob Slavin said it’s impossible to not think about the suffering.

“We sit here and play hockey for a living, and there’s people out there that are fighting to have power, fighting to have water and food right now, and it’s in our home state, and obviously all across the southeast,” Slavin said. “It’s definitely tough, and our prayers and our thoughts are with all of those families.”

Last week, the Hurricanes raised more than $300,000 for Helene victims during a sold-out preseason game.

“I know our owners donated a lot of money already and so for us, we can do what we can with our resources and helping people in need right now, whether that’s basic necessities [or] just helping where we can,” Slavin said.

“I think anything we can do as an organization, as players, to try and raise money for those people that are struggling right now and trying to rebuild their lives is the best thing we can do, and it’s just just the right thing to do,” Martinook said.

Martinook believes sports are healing for players and fans.

“I feel like times of times of sadness, people can find relief in sports,” he said. “So hopefully we can do that tomorrow night and and raise some money all at the same time.”

“It separates the reality of what’s going on in the real world, and you can kind of get away for a couple hours and not think about what’s going on,” Coach Rod Brind’Amour added. “And it also unites a lot of people that have differences, whether it’s political or … about the colleges. Everyone cheers for different teams, but they cheer for us, and it can kind of bring people together. Hopefully it does a little.”

The puck drops Friday at 7 p.m. at Lenovo Center for the Canes’ regular season opener.

The team is scheduled to play Tampa Bay in Florida on Saturday as the state recovers from Milton.