Fansided

Throw The Ice Caps In The Mix For Reverse Retros!

By Chris Baker |
Jan 10, 2023; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; Carolina Hurricanes center Sebastian Aho (20) skates before the game against the New Jersey Devils at PNC Arena. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 10, 2023; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; Carolina Hurricanes center Sebastian Aho (20) skates before the game against the New Jersey Devils at PNC Arena. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports

Recently, I was the first to announce Greensboro getting Carolina’s AHL team. (We’re allowed to dream) Today, I want to break the Canes wearing Raleigh Ice Caps jerseys as replacements for Whalers Nights in the near(ish) future.

Jan 10, 2023; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Pyotr Kochetkov (52) walks out onto the ice for the warmups against the New Jersey Devils at PNC Arena. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 10, 2023; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Pyotr Kochetkov (52) walks out onto the ice for the warmups against the New Jersey Devils at PNC Arena. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports /

Hear me out on this one before you go bonkers on me.

If….if…the NHL moves the Arizona Coyotes back into Hartford, which I would argue against, using Whalers kits in Raleigh for a throw-back is pretty much uncouth.

Harford would likely pull from the past with their naming and branding. Or at the very least use the Whalers for their retro nights.

Rightfully that would cut the Hurricanes out of the Whalers Market.

Leaving the door wide open for the Ice Caps to slide right in for reverse retro and throw-back opportunities.

And how great would that be?!?!

I loved the warm-ups last season during the 25th Anniversary Celebrations.

Jan 10, 2023; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Brent Burns (8) and center Seth Jarvis (24) go out onto the ice before the game against the New Jersey Devils at PNC Arena. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 10, 2023; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Brent Burns (8) and center Seth Jarvis (24) go out onto the ice before the game against the New Jersey Devils at PNC Arena. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports /

By no means am I a Raleigh Hockey historian, that job is left for our pals Mike Solarte and Brad in The Storm Cellar, but I am sure there are other versions of Ice Caps kits out there, so the Hurricanes would not be limited to the ones we saw last season.

Even if there are no other Ice Caps options, the Canes can run with the original logo for reverse retro nights. The capitol dome, ice, the color scheme of blue, black and white! I’m saving my money now!

While I would mourn the loss of Whalers nights, and all the throw-back/retro opportunities, there is something about pulling minor league hockey up to the big league.

Calling back to a team’s history, in any sport, is one of my favorite things. Pulling the Ice Caps off the dust bin, if the Whalers are taken from us, is the logical and right choice. I’m here for it from the start, and buying a hat first thing! 

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