Storm Debris: Catching up with the Canes Around the World and Back in Raleigh

Canes in the IIHF World Championship

With the preliminary round of the IIHF Mens World Championship now complete, the Carolina Hurricanes are still representing well, with all seven Canes players advancing to the elimination round with their respective countries. There’s a really good chance a few of them will bring home medals after Sunday’s final.

• Noah Hanifin and Team USA got off to a rocky start with a loss against hosting team Germany, then reeled off six straight wins to claim the top seed in Group A with a 5-3 win over Russia on Tuesday. Hanifin tallied two assists, and despite missing most of the second period in Saturday’s game against Latvia while receiving stitches for an errant puck to the chin, he leads Team USA in total time on ice. Mike Maniscalco caught up with Hanifin on Monday:

• It was a dream come true for Eddie Lack when he made his Team Sweden debut in net against Latvia on May 11, and he responded by saving all 19 shots in a 2-0 shutout victory. After surviving an early tournament scare from a slash to the knee, Elias Lindholm has seven points and is tied for fourth place in tournament goal-scoring with five goals. Victor Rask also has seven points (2g, 5a) and Joakim Nordstrom has tallied two assists. Sweden finished in third place in Group A in the preliminary rounds but expect them to be a formidable opponent after getting a late boost with the arrivals of Nicklas Backstrom and Henrik Lundqvist.
• Did you predict Jeff Skinner would be at the top of the tournament’s rankings in penalty minutes? In a rather bizarre call, Skinner was penalized a five-minute major and game misconduct for what was deemed to be ‘spearing’ the goalie as he followed up on a rebound opportunity against France on May 11 (watch and decide here - 1:16 mark). Skinner has eight points (3g, 5a) and is ranked 13th in tournament points after the preliminary round, which has Team Canada unsurprisingly in the top seed representing Group B.
• One can never count out the pesky Finns, but Sebastian Aho and Team Finland have had a bit of a rough go in this tournament with just two regulation wins. Overtime wins allowed them to squeak into the fourth and final seed from Group B. Aho is doing his part, leading Team Finland with eight points (2g, 6a) including the game-winner against Slovenia on May 10.

The quarterfinals begin tomorrow in Cologne and Paris. Unfortunately, USA meets Finland in the early quarterfinal, which means at least one Canes player won’t advance to the medal rounds, but it’s possible for at least three countries to advance with Canes on the roster. Here’s the remaining schedule, most will be covered live on either NHL Network or NBCSN:

Quarter-Finals May 18 - Cologne

A1) USA vs B4) Finland 10:15 am ET (watch on NBCSN)
B1) Canada vs A4) Germany 2:15 pm ET (watch on NHL Network)

Quarter-Finals May 18 - Paris

A2) Russia vs B3) Czech Republic 10:15 ET (watch on NHL Network)
B2) Switzerland vs A3) Sweden 2:15 pm ET (NHL Network - tape delay)

Semi-Finals May 20 - Cologne

USA/FIN winner vs SUI/SWE winner
CAN/GER winner vs RUS/CZE winner

Medal Games May 21 - Cologne

Meanwhile, in Raleighwood

• Eastern or Western? When it comes to Carolina barbecue, the answer should always be a resounding YES (don’t @ me), and Scott Darling agrees after sampling some of the state’s finest with Mike Maniscalco.

• Speaking of the Canes newest netminder, there’s a report circulating that implies the Dallas Stars were in on the Scott Darling sweepstakes before trading for and signing pending UFA Ben Bishop. Stockpiling those draft picks sure has come in handy.
• Four Hurricanes prospects - Callum Booth, Warren Foegele, Julien Gauthier, and Spencer Smallman - will represent their respective CHL teams in the 2017 Memorial Cup. Nikki Stoudt from the Canes web team provides a great preview as the tournament gets underway on May 19.
• Hurricanes assistant coach and defenseman whisperer Steve Smith finds himself on an inauspicious list as The Hockey News reviews a few of the most unfortunate own-goals in post-season history.
• The Kids ‘n Community Foundation has announced its 19th annual Golf Tournament at Prestonwood Country Club on Monday, Sept. 11. Registration is now open.
• The Hurricanes have announced the dates for its fifth annual Summerfest and Prospect Development Camp. Fresh on the heels of the expansion and entry drafts, the camp will run between June 27 and July 1 and will feature the 2017 draft class, prospects from previous draft classes, and selected invitees. In conjunction with the camp, the team will also hold youth hockey camps, an equipment sale, a season ticket open house, and a full fan event on the closing day. For more details, visit the Summerfest page.