It’s been a week and a half since Don Cherry called the Carolina Hurricanes “a bunch of jerks” for celebrating their home wins with their creative and over-the-top Storm Surges.
The Canes doubled down in the face of the controversy, embracing Cherry’s insult as a badge of pride. The team released a “Bunch of Jerks” t-shirt which sold out within the first two days.
On Tuesday, the Canes defeated the Los Angeles Kings 6-1 on home ice and had another chance to embrace their degenerate title.
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Oh my god it’s happening pic.twitter.com/lOJ5bcPE5Q
— Sara Civ (@SaraCivian) February 27, 2019
Yup, the team skated back out after the win to the “Bunch of Jerks” design projected onto the ice. This is amazing.
In case you forgot… pic.twitter.com/BKFH3kXj7Y
— Carolina Hurricanes (@NHLCanes) February 27, 2019
Hurricanes owner Tom Dundon had this tongue-in-cheek remark.
Putting the new projection system to good use pic.twitter.com/qBxHNSGEJe
— Tom Dundon (@TDCanes) February 27, 2019
Gary Bettman, the commissioner of the NHL, was at PNC Arena for the game and was asked about his opinion of the Storm Surge.
“I consider Don Cherry a friend, and I respect him, but we can agree to disagree on certain things,” Bettman said.
Bettman said that what works for one hockey market may not work for another, and how fanbases engage with hockey changes over time. He continued, saying that he has no problem with the celebrations as long as the players enjoy doing it and the fans enjoy seeing it.
“As long as the people involved are feeling good about it, who’s to complain?” Bettman said.
These fans certainly aren’t complaining.
look at this jerk pic.twitter.com/R1rrRUDC0U
— Carolina Hurricanes (@NHLCanes) February 27, 2019
nice shirt pic.twitter.com/D3gobPZIIg
— Carolina Hurricanes (@NHLCanes) February 27, 2019
Headline photo: @TDCanes
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