{"id":522,"date":"2026-05-19T11:04:01","date_gmt":"2026-05-19T11:04:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/durhammovinghub.com\/?p=522"},"modified":"2026-05-19T11:04:01","modified_gmt":"2026-05-19T11:04:01","slug":"what-nc-state-grad-astronaut-christina-koch-said-about-the-carolina-hurricanes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/durhammovinghub.com\/?p=522","title":{"rendered":"What NC State grad, astronaut Christina Koch said about the Carolina Hurricanes"},"content":{"rendered":"

Artemis II astronaut Christina Koch was a student at N.C. State<\/a> when the Carolina Hurricanes moved to Raleigh in 1999. She attended her first NHL games at the now-Lenovo Center.<\/p>\n

Read more These NC towns rank among the nation\u2019s best places to live. Here\u2019s why<\/a><\/p>\n

Talk about whiplash when she attended Game 4 of the Canes-Philadelphia Flyers postseason series last weekend, at the franchise\u2019s invitation, dressed in Flyers gear. It was a somewhat last-minute trip, she told The News & Observer on Monday. Koch did an interview in California for the Oprah Winfrey podcast<\/a> and flew to Philadelphia for the matchup before returning to Houston<\/a>.<\/p>\n

It was one of the few non-work opportunities she had between media responsibilities, speaking engagements and typical post-mission debriefs at Johnson Space Center.<\/p>\n

\u201cI feel like I have a connection to that team,\u201d Koch said of the Flyers. \u201cBut it definitely was a struggle being at that Canes game, because, obviously, I\u2019m from North Carolina, I did spend my time in Raleigh, and I\u2019ve seen the Canes in person.\u201d<\/p>\n

Koch\u2019s connection doesn\u2019t mean she\u2019s necessarily switching her support, though. In fact, she might be the most neutral sports fan out there, despite the light trash talking.<\/p>\n

The 47-year-old admires the teamwork, athletic excellence and the need for players to \u201cbring their best.\u201d Koch said she can see that when watching any game. Plus, she loves a good David-and-Goliath-type story.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Canes just aren\u2019t the underdog right now,\u201d Koch said. \u201cThey are sweeping everywhere they go, so the underdog lover in me is really struggling with what to do.\u201d<\/p>\n

The astronaut converted into a Philadelphia fan largely when she worked on the International Space Station several years ago. NASA uplinked Eagles games on the weekend or one small device had limited internet access. She watched NFL Ticket or looked for highlights as time allowed.<\/p>\n

Watching games connected with her husband, a longtime Eagles and Flyers supporter. She didn\u2019t get to watch anything during the most-recent mission, due to the distance and more operational nature of the trip.<\/p>\n

Koch went on to explain she believes people select teams based on what matters to them, and what they take pride in. That can be a love for family history, where someone is from, or any other trait they value.<\/p>\n

\u201cI just try to be true to that,\u201d Koch said. \u201cAnd, everyone knows I love North Carolina. Obviously, it formed who I am. All my family\u2019s there. It\u2019s home.\u201d<\/p>\n

Read more Clayton man charged with murder for allegedly stabbing his mother<\/a><\/p>\n

The Flyers lost the game she attended, eliminating them from playoff contention. That became a rivalry among her family, with siblings, nieces and nephews taking sides and engaging in banter. It\u2019s a split situation, she said.<\/p>\n

Koch even sent Canes and Flyers jerseys to her relatives. Some embraced Gritty and others remained true to Stormy. She\u2019ll have to see how things go this weekend, when the Canes begin the Eastern Conference Finals.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is true that my family will be paying attention to the Canes,\u201d Koch said. \u201cI have no doubt that we\u2019ll be keeping up with how it\u2019s going.\u201d<\/p>\n

The first trip Koch booked when the Artemis II crew made it safely back from space was to North Carolina. She\u2019s finally making the trek this weekend, and it\u2019ll be the first time she sees her parents, siblings and their children in person since the mission\u2019s completion.<\/p>\n

She\u2019s excited. The crew has interacted with a lot of families and children since its return, but hers is last to get checked off the list.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt has felt really hard to have spent so much time [away],\u201d Koch said. \u201cI\u2019ve obviously talked to them and video chatted with them, but I cannot wait to hug them. That\u2019ll be my final completion of coming back to Earth.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Wolfpack alumna would love to attend a football or basketball game, she said, if the university extends an invitation. (The Flyers invited her.)<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m waiting. I am ready. I love N.C. State, so bring it on,\u201d Koch said. \u201cI have been contacted by N.C. State. They\u2019ve been very gracious, and I really just can\u2019t wait to see the best way that I can maybe be involved in inspiring students and showing all the great things that you can do with STEM education all throughout North Carolina.\u201d<\/p>\n

N.C. State football hosts an \u201cAlpha Wolf\u201d \u2014 from famous alumni to popular people on campus \u2014 before every home game to rile up Carter-Finley Stadium. Former players, of any sport, and high-profile figures have sat courtside at men\u2019s and women\u2019s basketball games.<\/p>\n

Who better than the Wolfpack\u2019s lone astronaut? It\u2019s time someone gets Athletic Director Boo Corrigan on the phone.<\/p>\n

Read more Former NC State basketball star to coach high school team in Cabarrus County<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

NASA Artemis II astronaut Christina Koch, an NC State alum, attended a Philadelphia Flyers-Carolina Hurricanes playoff game, juggling family ties, team loyalties.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":521,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-522","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-read-todays-edition"],"yoast_head":"\nWhat NC State grad, astronaut Christina Koch said about the Carolina Hurricanes - Durham Moving Hub<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/durhammovinghub.com\/?p=522\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"What NC State grad, astronaut Christina Koch said about the Carolina Hurricanes - 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