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Vickki Mackey and Nik Divilio left Jacksonville before 3 a.m. Saturday to be in the Lenovo Center parking lots before 5 o’clock. By 9 a.m., they had joined Tori Poole, a local friend, in spending about $1,000.
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As Carolina Hurricanes season-ticket holders, Mackey and Divilio are used to the drive. And after the Canes won the Stanley Cup, they wanted in on buying memorabilia from what was a most memorable season.
Hundreds of Canes fans wanted the same. The lines were long, the fans patient and expectant. With the arena being renovated – construction continued Saturday – the Canes’ annual “Yard Sale” was held outside on the South Plaza and in the box office lobby.
Hockey sticks, new and old, were being scooped up. Pucks, jerseys, gloves, hoodies, warmups, posters, pads, helmets, Whalers gear … it was all up for grabs. Used sticks were being sold for $125 and new, unused sticks for $225.
Mackey picked up a Nikolaj Ehlers stick for her collection.
“Because it’s Ehlers. Who doesn’t love Ehlers?” she said, smiling.
Mackey said he grew up in Maryland as a “long-time” Washington Capitals fan. That allegiance has changed. Big time.
“We’re here now,” she said. “We are here now.”
Meaning the Canes, as Stanley Cup champions.
In the eighth consecutive playoff appearance under coach Rod Brind’Amour, the Canes swept Ottawa and Philadelphia, topped the Montreal Canadians in the Eastern Conference final of the playoffs and then beat the Vegas Golden Knights in six games for the Cup.
The Hurricanes will put up a second Stanley Cup banner Sept. 29 at the home opener against the Florida Panthers.
“It means a lot to see the team we have followed through the good and the bad finally push past the conference final and get to the Cup,” Poole said.
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Goalie Frederik Andersen was in net for 13 of the Canes’ 16 playoff victories before Brandon Bussi took over in the Cup Final. Andersen left after the season in free agency, signing with the Edmonton Oilers, but some of his gear remained behind to be sold.
With Canes head equipment manager Jorge Alves, a former goalie, on hand to assist, Jack Susman of Raleigh spent $1,900 in buying Andersen’s pads, plus blocker and glove. Susman, originally from upstate New York, said he’s a goalie in hockey leagues locally and needed to update his gear.
Susman was another who was parked by 5 a.m. He knew what he wanted.
Did he buy Andersen’s pads because he was a favorite Hurricane?
“No, because I fit in them,” Susman said, grinning. “I bought some of his gear about three years ago and I knew Freddie was leaving. I wanted to get here today …”
And spend $1,900. New goalie gear can cost $3,000, Canes equipment manager Nick Roy said
A portion of the funds from the yard sale benefit the Carolina Hurricanes Foundation.
Chad and Ashley Holloman from Johnston County also were early arrivals Saturday and bought a Logan Stankoven stick and a Jackson Blake stick in a cache they estimated at $800.
“It was fun, it was worth it,” Chad Holloman said. “In our lifetimes it was the first (Cup) run they’ve had.”
Read more After Stanley Cup run, there’s a run on Carolina Hurricanes merchandise