NHL All-Star 5K

Today was a great event out at the RBC Center as the NHL All-Star 5K was held.  It was a cold start to the day, but a good turnout of 2,000 runners.  As expected, the Hurricanes were well represented with several people wearing jerseys for the Caniac Nation.  Besides the Canes, I spotted jerseys from Boston, Pittsburgh, Montreal, Vancouver, New Jersey, Ottawa, Team USA and Hartford.

The course took us on a tour around the RBC Center then past Carter-Finley Stadium before heading out onto the roads before making the turn back to the RBC Center.  The finish line was right in front of the lawn outside the arena.

It was great to see Hurricanes play-by-play announcer John Forslund service as host and leader for cheering every runner to the finish.  He made sure to recognize everyone he could.  He gave my wife a nice shout-out as she approached the finish line.  I was cheering her on from one side and she had friends on the other side cheering for her too.  Forslund proceeded to say to her, "Number 187 is the crowd favorite".  That was great to hear.

I ran the race with my good friend Jon.  We booth ran wearing Team 413 shirts.  Started out on a good pace and took advantage of an early downhill stretch to pick the pac up.  As we made our way past mile 1, we started up Trinity Road which is nothing but a steady incline all the way to mile 2.  After making the turn onto Westchase Road heading back to the finish line, I looked at my watch and knew breaking 30 minutes was reachable if I picked up the pace a little.  I proceeded to put in a little extra and was able to cross the line in 29:30.  My buddy Jon was also able to break 30 minutes.

Overall this was a great event and I have to say thank you the NHL, the Carolina Hurricanes and NC Races for putting this on.  It would be awesome to see this turn into an annual event.  Even though the All-Star game will not be here, we could still have this event.

Below are a couple of pictures from today's event and the medal given to the first 500 people that registered for the race..  

The Sutter Soar!

Forty-one years ago during the Stanley Cup Finals in 1970, Bobby Orr scored the cup clinching goal in dramatic fashion.  It was an OT goal in game 4 to complete the sweep of the St. Louis Blues.  The celebration of that goal is probably the most well-known photo in all of hockey.  What a moment captured in time to see Orr completely horizontal to the ice...like superman flying through the air.

This past Monday night during the Hurricanes vs. Maples Leafs game, Brandon Sutter scored on a great hustle play.  After racing to the puck on the half wall, he passed it back to the point.  He then headed straight to the net.  After the shot from the point, the rebound came right out the hustling Sutter who produced a great goal.  The following photo (by Gregg Forwerck/NHLI via Getty Images) shows amazing similarity to Orr's famous one forty-one years ago.

Granted, Sutter's goal was not a Stanley Cup clinching goal, but amazing to see the similarity of him flying through the air just like Bobby Orr in 1970.  This is a perfect example of Sutter's grit and determination as there is so much Sutter brings to the game that does not show on the scoresheet.  His is outstanding on defense in killing penalities, applying the forecheck and in the faceoff circle.  One day Sutter should win a Selke award as the best defensive forward in the league.

Maybe one day we will see the "Sutter Soar" again as he lifts the Stanley Cup horizontal to the ice!

 

It's beginning to look a lot like....

You probably figured the last word of the title for this post would be Christmas. Well, normally you would be correct. In this particular case, the rest of the title is "the All-Star Game".

As I went to have lunch with friends today, I drove threw downtown Raleigh. You see more and more signs of the All-Star festivities that begin on Friday and continue through the 58th NHL All-Star game on Sunday.

As I passed a hotel, there was a coach bus with the NHL 2K video game plastered all over it. Then you get a look at the RBC Tower with the All-Star window treatments. Then, as I headed south out of Raleigh, the logos for the Fan Fair at the convention center could be clearly seen.

This is going to be an exciting weekend for the NHL, the Carolina Hurricanes, the city of Raleigh and all of the Caniacs out there. I know I am excited to see Raleigh shine.

Looking forward to seeing who Staal and Lidstrom draft on their teams Friday night. This a great twist to the format this year. You can check out the fantasy draft on Versus at 8pm EST Friday.

Then on Saturday there are a couple of great events. First of all is the All-Star 5K. I am looking forward to running in this event with my wife and good friend Jon. Should be a blast with all of the Caniacs and other NHL fans who will join us in the 3.1 mile run. Look for a post on my blog soon after the event highlighting all that happened.

Then later Saturday we have the SuperSkills Challenge. Should be special to see all of the skills on display. I am amazed at what these guys can do.

On Sunday it all comes to an end with the game. Some of the big names will be unable to play due to injury (Crosby and Malkin), but this will still be a great event.

Enjoy this awesome celebration everyone. For everyone who is not here in Raleigh, I hope you will tune in to Versus to watch.

NHL All-Star Game

The NHL All-Star Game is quickly approaching and yesterday the NHL announced the players that will participate in the event.

For Canes fans, we have come to associate the appearance of Eric Staal at the All-Star game an annual occurrence and that is the case again this year as Staal will make his 4th appearance.  This year will definitely be different as the Hurricanes are the hosts.  In talking to the media yesterday Staal said, "You want to be recognized among the elite in the league and for me to be a part of that this year is an incredible honor, especially being in our home building in front of our fans."

Making his first All-Star game will be goalie Cam Ward.  In my opinion, probably the most under-rated goalie in the league.  This is a well deserved selection as Cam has played outstanding this season.  He is the Canes all-time wins leader.  As Ward noted, "It'll be my first All-Star appearance and that's one thing, and then to have it at your home building is going to be a special experience and I'm really looking forward to it."

Rookie Jeff Skinner was selected as one of the 12 first-year players for the SuperSkills Competition.  This is going to be special to see Skinner showing off his skills that we have seen throughout the season so far.  Skinner is leading all rookies in scoring at this point in the season.  Think back to when you were 18, can you imagine being in the position he is?  Absolutely amazing!

Caniacs, this is going to be an exciting time at the end of this month.  With the draft January 28 live on Versus and TSN, I wonder if Staal and Ward will be on the same team????

2011 NHL All-Star 5K

This January the NHL All-Star Game will be coming to Raleigh!  This is going to be a great way for the Caniac Nation to show how enthusiastic we can be and why we have the reputation for the loudest "house" in the NHL.

Announced earlier this week, NHL All-Star Wide Open will take place January 28-30. 

The “all-star” line-up will feature hockey’s best and a free Friday night show at the Downtown Raleigh Amphitheater from  Three Doors Down.

•NHL Fan Fair - A hockey fan festival featuring interactive games and attractions, special appearances, Hockey Hall of Fame trophy and memorabilia displays, live TV and radio broadcasts, pin trading and trading card zones, music, food, official NHL All-Star merchandise and dozens of other dynamic activities in the Raleigh Convention Center (Friday-Sunday, Jan. 28-30).

•All-Star Live at the Amphitheater: A series of free concerts featuring Three Doors Down (Friday-Saturday, Jan. 28-29).

•All-Star Streets: A street party on Fayetteville and Cabarrus Streets in the style of the popular Raleigh Wide Open spectaculars (Friday-Saturday, Jan. 28-29).

•All-Star 5K - A charity 5K run/walk through Raleigh, starting and ending at the RBC Center, to benefit the Carolina Hurricanes Kids ‘N Community Foundation (Saturday, Jan. 29 at 9:00 am).
 
The 5K is a great addition to this outstanding weekend.  I wonder if any of the all-stars will take part in this event?  I have already signed up and you can't beat a $25 entry fee with no processing fees.
 
Anyone interested can sign-up by going to http://www.ncraces.com/.
 
What a awesome way to actually showcase the name of my blog.  I am a huge Hurricane fan and love running.  Having the All-Star game and a 5K is perfect for the......Running Caniac!

Caniac Nation....It Is Time!

The NHL season has arrived. 

The Hurricanes open the season on Thursday in the NHL's Premiere in Helsinki, Finland against the Minnesota Wild.  This is a homecoming for  Jussi  Jokinen, Joni Pitkanen and Tuomo Ruutu.  Tuomo Ruutu played for the club team in the arena where the NHL Premiere game is being held prior to coming to North America.  In the off season he lives only a few minutes away from the arena.  After a long off season, the Hurricanes and all of you Caniacs out there should be eager to get the season started.

This year the Hurricanes are led by captain Eric Staal as he begins his first full season as the captain with the retirement of Rod Brind'Amour this summer.  I am looking for a big season from Staal.  The Canes also had a youth movement this off season and it will be interesting to see how the young guys perform.  A lot of eyes will be on first round draft pick Jeff Skinner and he has even been mentioned as a possible Calder Trophy candidate.

The Canes have also brought back a couple of veteren defensman in Joe Corvo and Anton Babchuk.  Corvo was traded to Washington at the deadline last season and Babchuk returns after a year playing in Russia.  The Canes have some youth on defense as well, but I am looking to the leadership of Tim Gleason, Joni Pitkanen and Joe Corvo to bring the young guys along. 

Last season was a difficult one for goalie Cam Ward.  He had issues with his back and then received a nasty laceration on his leg from the skate of Rick Nash that kept him out for several games.  I am looking for Cam to regain the form he had when the Canes won the Stanley Cup in 2006.

No one seems to give the Canes much of a chance this year of making the playoffs.  Well, this Caniac sees the Canes making the playoffs and contending.

We get to see this Thursday what the Canes will be bringing to the table....or should I say ice.

Let's go Canes!