The Carolina Hurricanes just took a historic team photo that will accurately represent to future generations what living in the coronavirus pandemic was like.
On Saturday, 41 players, coaches, trainers, and staff members all wore black Hurricanes-branded masks in their annual roster pic.
“1, 2, 3… smile?” the Hurricanes tweeted.
1, 2, 3… smile? pic.twitter.com/5OciwCnfGJ
— Carolina Hurricanes (@Canes) July 18, 2020
The team also tweeted a link to a webpage on the North Carolina’s Department of Health and Human Services website that explained the importance of social distancing and hand-washing. Elite.
And please, y'all, know your W'shttps://t.co/jYFJb4huKx
— Carolina Hurricanes (@Canes) July 18, 2020
According to Hurricanes’ PR guy Mike Sundheim, only 20 people took the photo at a time to comply with NHL Phase 3 protocols. The Hurricanes’ digital team used photoshop to place everyone together.
We were on the road after the trade deadline, so today was our first chance to pull off a 2019-20 team picture.
Obviously a lot fewer people — we are maxed at 20 staff for player access in Phase 3. But, nothing a couple stand-ins and a little photoshop couldn't solve. https://t.co/jC5ln6YDrh
— Mike Sundheim (@MikeSundheim) July 18, 2020
The photo inspired a grateful tweet from North Carolina governor Roy Cooper who said “the toughest guys around know the importance of wearing the mask to protect people around them.” Gov. Cooper mandated public mask-wearing state-wide on June 26 when social-distancing measures can’t be followed.
My beloved @Canes – the toughest guys around – know the importance of wearing the mask to protect people around them. Go Canes! – RC pic.twitter.com/P0GlgV5nxr
— Governor Roy Cooper (@NC_Governor) July 18, 2020
The sixth-seeded Hurricanes will open up the 2020 playoffs with a best-of-five series against the 11th seeded Rangers in the play-in round.
Headline photo courtesy of the @Canes
