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Carolina Hurricanes: Dave Ayres is the Greatest Moment of the 19-20 Season So Far

ByZac Hynus|
RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA - FEBRUARY 25: Dave Ayres sounds the warning siren during the game between the Dallas Stars and Carolina Hurricanes at at PNC Arena on February 25, 2020 in Raleigh, North Carolina. Ayres, in emergency relief, recorded eight saves, the win and first-star honors in his National Hockey League debut with the Carolina Hurricanes in their game against the Toronto Maple Leafs on February 22. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA - FEBRUARY 25: Dave Ayres sounds the warning siren during the game between the Dallas Stars and Carolina Hurricanes at at PNC Arena on February 25, 2020 in Raleigh, North Carolina. Ayres, in emergency relief, recorded eight saves, the win and first-star honors in his National Hockey League debut with the Carolina Hurricanes in their game against the Toronto Maple Leafs on February 22. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)

When we look back on the 2020 season so far, the Carolina Hurricanes have had a plethora of great moments. However, all of them pale in comparison to when a Zamboni driver saved the day in Toronto.

The 2019-2020 season will be ingrained into the memories of not only every Carolina Hurricanes fan, but every hockey fan around the world. This season was filled with so many incredible moments that now all feel overshadowed with the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent suspension of the NHL season.

For the Carolina Hurricanes, there were definitely plenty of great moments to choose from for the title of “Greatest Moment of Season So Far.”

Justin Williams is returning vs the Islanders and getting the game-winning shootout goal, Andrei Svechnikov scoring a lacrosse goal twice and thus coining the term “The Svech,” and James Reimer standing on his head on Whalers Night for the shutout.

https://twitter.com/NHL/status/1244619237311811584?s=20

Without a doubt, this season has been vastly entertaining with many highs and many lows. However, one game was so unique and so captivating that it made a man a folk hero in Carolina in an instant.

That honor belongs to in the words of, Toronto Maple Leafs fan, Steve Dangle, “Dave Ayres, a 42-year-old Zamboni driver who works for them!” If you haven’t seen his rant about it, here’s the link.

https://twitter.com/Sportsnet/status/1231685194530332673?s=20

Now so many others have written stories about Ayres that the story has basically been beaten to heck and back, But, let’s just look at how impactful this man, who came out of the stands to play and win for the Carolina Hurricanes, became for this franchise basically overnight.

Moments after he got off the ice the Carolina Hurricanes social media and merchandise teams had already made a shirt jersey for him that sold like fire, he made an appearance at the next Hurricanes home game vs Dallas when he met fans and sounded the siren, and he was supposed to return when the Maple Leafs came to PNC Arena on March 26th.

They even sent Steve Dangle a shirt.

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I was in the building for when Dave Ayres came to PNC vs Dallas and the line to meet him was halfway around the arena. When he interviewed with Fox Sports Carolinas, the crowd was like that of a small venue concert. He created so much buzz and still is to this day.

Dave Ayres is a piece of hockey history. I, luckily, got to witness this moment with my friends at a watch party, and the roller coaster of expressions throughout the night will stay with me for a long time.

Question to the CC Readers:  What was your greatest moment of the 2019-2020 season so far?

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