RALEIGH. North Carolina on the Atlantic coast in the south of the United States is not perceived as a vibrant disc region. The state, with a population of about ten million, is better known for its numerous military bases, NASCAR enthusiasm, and tasty barbecue food.
But in Raleigh, the state capital surrounded by numerous top universities, puck culture blooms beautifully in the setting sun on Friday night.
– I grew up here and have been playing games since the late 1990s. There has always been a good atmosphere here. Especially since the early 2000s, when our team started to make ends meet, he says Matt Karschner.
There are still a couple of hours to go before the match, but there are already a couple of hundred people in the parking lot. The atmosphere is relaxed but waiting.
The history of Carolina Hurricanes begins more than five decades ago in Boston, where the New England Whalers played the WHA League.
In 1979, the name and location changed to Harford Whalers. At the same time, the door opened for the NHL.
1997 was again a place of migration. This time to North Carolina and the name was Hurricanes.
After that too Tuomo Ruutu, Jussi Jokinen and Joni Pitkänen played themselves into the club’s history books with extensive careers.
However, the most important Finnish player in Hurricanes’ history may already be Sebastian Aho. Aho, who was born in Rauma and received his puck lessons in Kärpi, Oulu, was booked for the NHL in the second round in 2015.
Aho immediately played convincingly in his new season 2016-17: he scored 24 goals and since then the results have been consistently good every year.
This season, Aho has further tightened its momentum. Power has accumulated at a record pace above the point with a match average. He is among the top 20 in the entire NHL points exchange.
– He seems to be playing his best, he estimates Sara Civianeditor of The Athletic, a leading American sports publication.
– Aho has shown this season that he can take on a bigger role both on the ice and outside the trough. He speaks really convincingly and threatens to win, Civiani describes.
Disc editor of the North State Journal Cory Lavalette agrees with Civian as he watches the team’s morning practice.
– Aho’s year has been great. He is slowly becoming an NHL superstar. Team head coach Rod Brind’Amour was a little skeptical at first about Aho ‘s ability to play as a centerpiece because he’ s not very big, Lavalette says.
In the NHL, the central striker’s playing field is very demanding. In addition to attacking power, one must be involved in the defense.
Often, the No. 1 Center will face the opponent’s best players – or alternatively the most skilled irritants whose job it is to black out the star players.
– Aho has shown this season that he can challenge and succeed Alexander Barkovin against players like that, Lavalette says.
I ask him what he means by greater leadership. According to Brind’Amour, these are small details.
– He plays every night against the best players in the world and does it the right way in both the offensive and defensive end.
– He plays in a way that forces other players to follow his example. That’s the leader’s sign, Brind’Amour praises.
24-year-old Aho is still a relatively young player, but he doesn’t shrink the role of leader.
– I have been able to carry the load of bigger minutes and play in the role of a center against the best of my opponent. I feel like I am one of our leading players.
If Aho is still looking for a bigger leadership role in the trough, then his popularity among supporters is already almost at its peak. Aho is visibly superior to number one in the number of jerseys.
There are also high expectations with the star. The only championship in Hurricanes so far has come in the spring of 2006.
At its worst, the Hurricanes were left out of the playoffs eight times in a row after the championship. Led by Aho and coach Brind’Amour, who was hired four seasons ago, the team has set off on a new rise.
– Sebastian has taken this organization to a new level and revived expectations for winning the championship, says the team captain Jordan Staal when applying for chicken paste after morning exercises.
Coach Brind’Amour puts the ice on Aho’s responsibility, even though this is the number one center.
– We have many people on the team. Jordan Staal is our captain and is the team mate.
Known for his high standards, Brind’Amour also points out that Aho still has room for improvement.
– He can develop in all areas of the game. Starts, goals and runs for example. You can always go to the gym to gain strength and speed. Small things that make a player better.
Aho herself does not feel pressured. He thinks it’s a privilege to get in charge and get to play the “big minutes”.
– That’s why this job is done to help the team win and share their experiences. Sometimes there may be disappointments, but then there are those feelings of victory.
The new arrival of Hurricanes has a strong Finnish mark. After the Americans and Kandans, the Finns are best represented by four players.
In addition to Aho, the team will play a striker Teuvo Sharp and Jesperi Kotkaniemi as well as a goalkeeper Antti Raanta.
– Yes, it shows in the daily work here that Finns play a big role. Sepe and Teukka in particular are big players here, Kotkaniemi says.
Listening to Brind’Amour, it comes to mind that the Finnish representation of four players is not necessarily a mere coincidence.
– They prepare well, work hard and are always ready to do their best. They have different skill characteristics, but everyone does a lot of work. That’s what we like.
Hurricanes, led by Aho, has gained experience in the playoffs over the last three seasons. During these years, the team reached its best until the final of the conference.
Last year, the trip filled the reigning champion Tampa Bay Lightning for the second round.
– Such experiences are needed if you want to get better. Probably it also made me hate losing it and it left a lot of hunger for this season, Aho thinks.
Experience in hard games may be the factor Hurricanes needs to fight seriously for a Stanley Cup win. A Danish goalkeeper who moved to the team from Toronto this season Frederik Andersen could be considered by many to be the Joker card that takes the bundle to the next level.
– The goalkeeper game is now a better model than ever before, says journalist Cory Lavalette.
Denmark’s Andersen has a third-highest rejection rate, which has helped Carolina stay in the top spot throughout the season. On the other hand, this has pushed Antti Raanna into the role of second goalkeeper.
– Freddie has played so incredibly well that it would have been foolish to vary the joy of switching. Yes, you have to go when the goalkeeper is hot and playing it, Raanta says honestly.
Hurricanes is rarely proclaimed the toughest champion favorite, even though the team has proven to be the elite of the regular season this year as well. However, the respect of others will be earned once and for all as the team goes to the finals.
Aho thinks it’s time to take the next step. Even win the championship.
– It has been a clear goal since day one, Aho says.
– That is the only goal we have this year. On a daily basis, that means doing chores and building that puzzle day in and day out.