The Carolina Hurricanes and head coach Rod Brind’Amour are still soaking in the joy of their second Stanley Cup championship in franchise history.
Arguably one of the biggest moments from the Saturday’s parade in Raleigh was Brind’Amour’s now-famous shirtless moment with the Cup. After the team brought the trophy back to Raleigh for a fan celebration, the “Rod the Bod” tradition made a comeback.
As the players gathered on stage, they handed the Stanley Cup to Brind’Amour, then playfully ripped his shirt off while chanting, “Take it off! Take it off!” The coach played along, lifting the Cup high above his head in classic fashion.
Watch the video below:
Rod Brind’Amour finally got his first Stanley Cup as a coach with the Hurricanes, beating the Vegas Golden Knights 4-2 in Game 6 of the 2026 Finals.
Notably, he was also the first to bring the Cup to Carolina while serving as the captain of the Hurricanes in 2006, and now he’s done it again from behind the bench.
More than 100,000 fans gathered at the Carolina Hurricanes Stanley Cup victory parade
The Carolina Hurricanes’ 2026 Stanley Cup parade commenced on Saturday at Hillsborough Street. The parade then moved to St. Mary’s Street before the celebrations continued east along Hillsborough Street.
After that, the parade marched south on Salisbury Street at the State Capitol, continuing east on Morgan Street, and then headed south on Fayetteville Street before ending at City Plaza. According to reports, more than 100,000 fans took part in the Hurricanes’ long-awaited Cup celebration in Raleigh.
“I’m in shock,” Rod Brind’Amour said (via ESPN) in the gap between the end of the parade and the start of the rally that would end the day’s festivities in North Carolina’s capital. “It doesn’t happen very often, but I’m just kind of speechless.”
Captain Jordan Staal couldn’t believe seeing fans gather in such large numbers to be part of the parade:
“I was trying to explain to the fellas what I knew was going to happen,” said Staal. And my expectations were so high because I know these Caniacs, I know what they’re all about, and I was still blown away. I couldn’t even describe how amazing that was.”
Staal, 37, etched his name in NHL history books after becoming the oldest player to win the Conn Smythe as the playoff MVP.
Edited by Abhishek Dilta