The Carolina Hurricanes currently lead the Metropolitan Division early in the season, and they are being led by their captain: former Washington Capital forward Justin Williams.
Williams had expressed frustration with the team’s performance prior to being named captain. He’s focusing on the positives now.
After an 8-5 win over the NY Rangers, the team gathered on the ice, and Williams led everyone in a slow clap. Then Williams charged towards the end boards and bodychecked the plexiglass.
Justin Williams leads the slow clap and gets all the Hurricanes to jump into the glass after beating the Rangers pic.twitter.com/CPGdf4XbPR
— Brady Trettenero (@BradyTrett) October 8, 2018
There were a lot of smiles on the ice as his teammates followed their captain’s orders.
On Twitter (surprise, surprise) the haters came out, as shown in the replies to any of the tweets of the celly.
Williams came on Twitter to defend his celebration, reminding fans that though hockey is the players’ livelihood, it’s still just a game.
Hockey is our life and job…but it is still a game. Enjoy the good times and have fun with it…let’s celebrate more this year. Great win tonight #TakeWarning https://t.co/POvYY8z3qQ
— Justin Williams (@JustinWilliams) October 8, 2018
The Canes’ savvy social media people weren’t playing around either.
— Carolina Hurricanes (@NHLCanes) October 8, 2018
According to Canes PR, the idea for the celebration was all Williams.
It was Justin's idea.
— Mike Sundheim (@MikeSundheim) October 8, 2018
Williams also had an assist in the game, his third in three games.
.@MartyMan17 scored his second goal in as many games on this beautiful feed from @JustinWilliams 🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/oj3J7MuJve
— Carolina Hurricanes (@NHLCanes) October 7, 2018
Exuberant post-game celebrations are more common in other leagues, so Williams might have been inspired by former teammates like Evgeny Kuznetsov. He certainly has a ways to go before he reaches KHL-level cellies.
Kuzy’s canoe move is particularly good.
Lokomotiv Yaroslavl’s junior team even formed a perfect line of human dominoes after a 6-2 playoff win over Almaz.
The Canes and Capitals won’t meet this season until December 14, when they face off in Carolina. Hopefully, it will be the Capitals celebrating afterward.
Headline photo: @NHLCanes
