Ok, there are 27 days until the NHL season is to resume.

My preferred team, the Carolina Hurricanes prevailed in the 2025-2026 season and brought the Stanley Cup to my town, the City of Oaks.

Earlier this summer, my family and I went to the parade. I took a ton of photographs. Some of them quite delightful.

In the coming weeks, I’ll be doling these images out. Stick around, you’ll see some smiles and legends. If you love Raleigh or the Canes or the other finer things in life, I think you’ll enjoy yourself.

For now, a prelude. My kid, #15, an up-and-coming defender in the Canes House League made his own Stanley Cup replica to take the parade.

While his mom took him to the hardware store, the kid did a fine job. Taking an empty paint gallon, some PVC, and his mom’s mixing bowl, he forged a unique replica.

And a little spray paint later…

…the boy has made a masterpiece.

We’ll be sharing photos of this Cup’s journey as it crosses paths with the Stanley Cup in the coming days. Stay tuned.