RALEIGH, N.C. — Call it an homage, or something less flattering, the Whalers are returning to the ice for one night only.
The likeness of Hartford's beloved former NHL team is being brought back for one night this season, as the Carolina Hurricanes will once again don Whalers uniforms in what the team calls "one of the most enjoyable annual traditions of each Carolina Hurricanes season."
The Hurricanes unveiled new white Whalers themed jerseys and uniforms that will be worn for the team's home game on Saturday, February 10, 2024, when they host the New Jersey Devils.
"We’re always looking at ways to keep some of our recurring theme nights, like Whalers Night, fresh. This is a great opportunity to introduce jerseys that are both new and exciting to the team, and also add a retail opportunity for our fans," said Mike Forman, Chief Marketing Officer for the Carolina Hurricanes. "We’ve utilized the green jerseys pretty extensively over the years and sprinkled in the light gray jersey a few years back as part of the Reverse Retro leaguewide campaign but the white sweaters have always been on our radar."
The jerseys, along with other Whalers-inspired merchandise, is available for sale through the Hurricanes' online Pro Shop.
In addition to the new white jerseys, the Hurricanes will also be wearing Cooperall pants prior to the game for warmups, as a throwback to the 1980's when some Whalers players wore the different style of hockey pants during the game, before they were banned due to concerns over player safety.
According to the Canes Uniform Tracker profile on X, the Hurricanes are undefeated in regulation when wearing Whalers-themed uniforms, dating back to when the team began acknowledging their past as the Whalers in the 2018-19 season.
Connecticut hockey fans recall Hartford's history with the Whalers, leading to an eventual and emotional departure in 1997, when the team was relocated to Raleigh, N.C. The franchise won the Stanley Cup in the 2005-06 season as the Carolina Hurricanes.
In the more-than-quarter of a century since the Whalers left Connecticut, numerous unsuccessful pitches have been made to bring a professional hockey franchise back to Hartford. Most recently, calls to relocate the Arizona Coyotes to Connecticut fell quiet, as the team struggled with finding a suitable arena to fit the needs of an NHL franchise.
The Hartford Wolf Pack, the American Hockey League franchise affiliated with the New York Rangers, have filled the hockey void in Connecticut's capital city, being relocated from Binghamton, N.Y. to Hartford in 1997, following the departure of the Whalers.
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