Rod Brind’Amour got to lift the Stanley Cup in 2006 as the Carolina Hurricanes captain.
Twenty years later, he got to lift it for the first time as a coach.
“I’m so happy for these guys,” he told ABC after a series-clinching 3-0 win against the Golden Knights. “I wanted it as a player. I really wanted it, but I wanted it for these guys as a coach. It means so much to see how happy they are.”
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Brind’Amour’s team finally broke through in his eighth year as a Hurricanes head coach and three series losses in the conference final.
His hard-forechecking system can be wearing, but Carolina got through the first three rounds in 13 games, so it had plenty of rest. And the coach made adjustments to get the team to rebound from a 2-1 series deficit against the Knights.
Here’s video of Brind’Amour celebrating as a captain and as a coach:
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Hurricanes win 2026 Stanley Cup as celebration takes over the ice
The Carolina Hurricanes secured the Stanley Cup, closing out the series with a championship‑winning performance.
See the defining moments from the title‑clinching game as the Hurricanes lifted the Cup.
Above, Carolina Hurricanes celebrate the win against the Vegas Golden Knights in Game 6 of the 2026 Stanley Cup Final at T-Mobile Arena.
(Lucas Peltier, Imagn Images)
1 / 10
Hurricanes win 2026 Stanley Cup as celebration takes over the ice
The Carolina Hurricanes secured the Stanley Cup, closing out the series with a championship‑winning performance.
See the defining moments from the title‑clinching game as the Hurricanes lifted the Cup.
Above, Carolina Hurricanes celebrate the win against the Vegas Golden Knights in Game 6 of the 2026 Stanley Cup Final at T-Mobile Arena.
(Lucas Peltier, Imagn Images)
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Hurricanes win 2026 Stanley Cup as celebration takes over the ice
Carter Hart #79 of the Vegas Golden Knights defends the net against Andrei Svechnikov #37 of the Carolina Hurricanes during the first period in Game 6 of the 2026 Stanley Cup Final at T-Mobile Arena on June 14, 2026, in Las Vegas, Nevada.
(Ethan Miller, Getty Images)
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Hurricanes win 2026 Stanley Cup as celebration takes over the ice
Jordan Staal #11 of the Carolina Hurricanes celebrates at the end of Game 6 of the 2026 Stanley Cup Final against the Vegas Golden Knights at T-Mobile Arena on June 14, 2026, in Las Vegas, Nevada.
(Ethan Miller, Getty Images)
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Hurricanes win 2026 Stanley Cup as celebration takes over the ice
The Carolina Hurricanes celebrate winning Game 6 of the 2026 Stanley Cup Final against the Vegas Golden Knights 3-0 at T-Mobile Arena on June 14, 2026, in Las Vegas, Nevada.
(Bruce Bennett, Getty Images)
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Hurricanes win 2026 Stanley Cup as celebration takes over the ice
Nikolaj Ehlers #27 of the Carolina Hurricanes celebrates a goal in the third period against the Vegas Golden Knights in Game 6 of the 2026 Stanley Cup Final at T-Mobile Arena on June 14, 2026, in Las Vegas, Nevada.
(Ethan Miller, Getty Images)
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Hurricanes win 2026 Stanley Cup as celebration takes over the ice
The Carolina Hurricanes celebrate after beating the Vegas Golden Knights 3-0 in Game 6 of the 2026 Stanley Cup Final at T-Mobile Arena on June 14, 2026, in Las Vegas, Nevada.
(Ethan Miller, Getty Images)
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Hurricanes win 2026 Stanley Cup as celebration takes over the ice
Mark Jankowski #77, Brandon Bussi #32 and Jaccob Slavin #74 of the Carolina Hurricanes celebrate after beating the Vegas Golden Knights 3-0 in Game 6 of the 2026 Stanley Cup Final at T-Mobile Arena on June 14, 2026, in Las Vegas, Nevada.
(Ethan Miller, Getty Images)
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Hurricanes win 2026 Stanley Cup as celebration takes over the ice
K’andre Miller #19 of the Carolina Hurricanes reacts after winning against the Vegas Golden Knights 3-0 in Game 6 of the 2026 Stanley Cup Final at T-Mobile Arena on June 14, 2026, in Las Vegas, Nevada.
(Ethan Miller, Getty Images)
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Hurricanes win 2026 Stanley Cup as celebration takes over the ice
The Carolina Hurricanes celebrate a goal scored by Taylor Hall #71 of the Carolina Hurricanes during the first period against the Vegas Golden Knights in Game 6 of the 2026 Stanley Cup Final at T-Mobile Arena on June 14, 2026, in Las Vegas, Nevada.
(Bruce Bennett, Getty Images)
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Hurricanes win 2026 Stanley Cup as celebration takes over the ice
Commissioner Gary Bettman presents Jordan Staal #11 of the Carolina Hurricanes with the Conn Smythe Trophy after winning in Game 6 of the 2026 Stanley Cup Final against the Vegas Golden Knights 3-0 at T-Mobile Arena on June 14, 2026, in Las Vegas, Nevada.
(Ethan Miller, Getty Images)
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY Sports: Rod Brind’Amour wins Stanley Cup as Hurricanes captain, coach | Video
