The Carolina Hurricanes, long known for their inability to advance deep into the playoffs, today conquered the mountain again for the first time in two decades, going on a 16-3 playoff run to defeat the Vegas Golden Knights 3-0 in Game Six of the Stanley Cup Finals to win their first championship since 2006.

After a historic and wild first five games of the final, which saw multiple multi-goal comebacks and numerous historic records broken, including two overtime games, a Game Three classic that saw a 4-0 Vegas lead wiped out (only to be redeemed in double overtime), a late Carolina goalie switch, and a combined 39 goals for two traditionally defensive-first teams, Game Six was a far more reserved match by comparison. However, like the rookie goaltender Cam Ward bringing the Hurricanes the Cup in 2006, it was now rookie keeper Brandon Bussi, pitching the 22-save shutout to seal Lord Stanley’s Cup second trip to Raleigh.

The win marks Carolina’s second Stanley Cup in their third ever final, following a loss in 2002, and their first franchise win in 2006. The Hurricanes saw fourteen IHLC champions from five countries (Canada, Denmark, Finland, Russia and the United States) on the roster hoist the Cup, capped by incredible performances from the likes of captain and Conn Smythe Trophy winner Jordan Staal, the oldest winner in history, the goaltending duo of Bussi and Frederik Andersen, goal leaders Taylor Hall and Jackson Blake, and defender Jaccob Slavin, who becomes the first American to win the “Big Double” of a Stanley Cup and Olympic Gold in the same year since Ken Morrow in 1980.

Our congratulations go out to the players, management and fans of the Carolina Hurricanes, with those on the roster that have also held the IHLC highlighted in bold:

Photo Credit: IIHF – HHOF – IOC