Full Cirlce

 

Full Circle

In 2006, my youngest son and my husband were there for Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals at the RBC Arena in Raleigh.  My son was nearly 12 years old at the time.  The Carolina Hurricanes were tied with the Edmonton Oilers 3-3, going into this historic game on June 19, 2006.  Rod Brind’amour was the captain of the team.  The Canes were victorious in double overtime, and the place erupted in ear-piercing noise with buckets of confetti falling from the RBC rafters.  I have photos of the ecstasy that occurred which my husband took with his cellphone. Those photos were preserved immediately and appropriately in a scrapbook.  My husband was 48 years young at the time.  I’m sure this was one of the highlights of his life.  After all, our neighbor had graciously given him the tickets to experience this event.

Now fast forward 20 years, my youngest son is 31 and is married, living and working in Raleigh with his lovely wife.  My husband passed away in 2018 at the age of 60 from an unexpected GBM brain tumor.  He fought cancer valiantly, but in 9 months, he was no longer here.  Other dramatic changes have occurred since the first Hurricanes franchise Stanley Cup in 2006. The hockey arena is now the Lenovo Center, formerly the PNC center since being the RBC.  Rod Brind’amour, former player, is the head coach.  It has come full circle.  But some things have not changed:  

When I picked up dinner last evening only a few hours before puck drop, there was a dad and his two young sons in front of me in line.  They all wore Canes shirts of different varieties (Jarvis t-shirt, Slavin jersey).  I also had on my Canes Championship T-shirt.  We conversed shortly about the upcoming final games, and he shared that they were headed to the Lenovo Center after dinner for the Game 6 watch party.

Later that evening, as I watched our players hoist the Stanley Cup over their heads, I couldn’t help but remember how that was probably one of my husband’s favorite memories in 2006, and how that dad I met at Alpaca was also making that same memory with his own sons in 2026. It has been thrilling to watch this team bring such joy to all its fans.

Tammy Harvey

6/15/2026