{"id":1295,"date":"2026-05-29T20:07:39","date_gmt":"2026-05-29T20:07:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/durhammovinghub.com\/?p=1295"},"modified":"2026-05-29T20:07:39","modified_gmt":"2026-05-29T20:07:39","slug":"hamilton-the-pig-is-back-could-he-bring-the-canes-good-luck-in-the-playoffs-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/durhammovinghub.com\/?p=1295","title":{"rendered":"Hamilton the pig is back. Could he bring the Canes good luck in the playoffs?"},"content":{"rendered":"

AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.<\/p>\n

Read our AI Policy.<\/a><\/p>\n

The Carolina Hurricanes\u2019 biggest animal fan \u2014 and perhaps the only pig \u2014 has made a return. Hamilton is back.<\/p>\n

Read more Meet the N&O\u2019s new Raleigh and Wake County reporter, Nolan Wilkinson<\/a><\/p>\n

The 8-year-old pig, a Juliana breed, is famed among hockey fans for his iconic appearances<\/a> at Canes games and the good luck he seems to bring. Hamilton attended his first Canes game in 2019<\/a> and quickly reached unofficial mascot status, although the team already has a porcine mascot named Stormy the Ice Hog.<\/p>\n

To his fans\u2019 surprise, Hamilton made his first appearance since 2023 at Saturday\u2019s game against the Montreal Canadiens. The Canes won in a nail-biting overtime Eastern Conference finals thriller to move closer to winning the Stanley Cup. (They won again Wednesday and could clinch the series on Friday, sending them to the Stanley Cup Finals).<\/p>\n

The Canes haven\u2019t won the Stanley Cup since 2006. Kyle Eckenrode, Hamilton\u2019s \u201cpig dad,\u201d said Hamilton may be able to help change that.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnything extra that a little pig in a wagon can do to help bring the enthusiasm to the fans (is) never going to hurt,\u201d he said. \u201cAs long as people are still happy that he\u2019s there and getting a kick out of it, we\u2019ll probably continue taking him.\u201d<\/p>\n

In 2019, Hamilton attended three games in the playoffs against the Washington Capitals. The Canes won them all. Even when Hamilton wasn\u2019t at the game but was in the same city, the Canes reigned victorious.<\/p>\n

\u201cI took him out to tailgate and they won,\u201d Eckenrode said. \u201cAnd I was like \u2018Well, I guess I have to take him back now. And then they won again, and then again and again, and again\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

The games Hamilton missed? The Canes faltered.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe figured now would be a good time to bring him back out when we have the opportunity,\u201d Eckenrode said.<\/p>\n

Hamilton is escorted to games and tailgates<\/a> by Eckenrode, his wife Karoline, or his friend Shawn Lorden in a red wagon. If his hairy brown and black spots aren\u2019t enough to point him out, he\u2019s usually adorned with a red and black Canes bandana. But hauling him around isn\u2019t as easy as it used to be, Eckenrode said. He now weighs in at around 200 pounds.<\/p>\n

When the Eckenrodes brought Hamilton to his first tailgate on a whim, a representative was pleased to see him and asked if they\u2019d like to return to games frequently.<\/p>\n

Eckenrode, a Raleigh native, has been a Canes fan since the team came to North Carolina in 1997, he said. So signing his pig to an NHL contract was a dream come true. Though the contract had no money attached \u2014 the family got game tickets \u2014 Eckenrode said that he and his family are being \u201cpaid in memories.\u201d<\/p>\n

Read more You don\u2019t need reservations at these 20 top restaurants in the Triangle<\/a><\/p>\n

The Canes have played two full seasons without Hamilton attending any games. But in the meantime, Hamilton was living his best porky life.<\/p>\n

Hamilton has spent his days roaming around the yard at the Eckenrodes\u2019 Raleigh home, eating fallen fruit from their trees or food scraps thrown out the kitchen window, and basking in the sunroom that he has all to himself. He\u2019ll even indulge in some television from time to time.<\/p>\n

Fans are happy that he\u2019s returned from his hiatus, and they\u2019re hoping he\u2019ll bring the team some luck.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe goat is back,\u201d one commenter said on a post on Hamilton\u2019s Instagram account. The pig has nearly 12,000 followers across Instagram<\/a> and X<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Hamilton, who also goes by Hami, is a social pig, and draws attention from fans young and old, Eckenrode said.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s done a really good job with connecting with the fans,\u201d Eckenrode said.<\/p>\n

He\u2019d probably love each fan even more if they had his some of his favorite snacks, strawberries and carrots, in hand.<\/p>\n

The family would love to bring Hamilton to more games this season, but balancing work, family and the pig\u2019s public appearances can be time consuming, Eckenrode said.<\/p>\n

The Eckenrodes are now a family of six, including Hamilton and their dog Remington. Kyle said that his 4-year-old daughter Parker, who recently attended her first Canes game, was shocked that everyone seemed to know who her pig was.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey were all very excited to see him there,\u201d Eckenrode said. \u201cAnd then of course, winning with him there didn\u2019t hurt at all.\u201d<\/p>\n

Fans should check Hamilton\u2019s social media accounts to see if the pig will grace Canes fans with his presence at upcoming games. But until his next meet-and-greet, the Canes\u2019 lucky, potbellied friend will be snacking in the sun.<\/p>\n

Read more Last call for extras to be in Amazon Prime movie filming in NC. Here\u2019s when (+ pay)<\/a><\/p>\n

This story was originally published May 29, 2026 at 8:00 AM.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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