Fans of the Carolina Hurricanes have revealed the ice hockey team’s good luck charm, linking the team’s latest two-win streak with a pig that had “attended” the home games.
Not being allowed to enter the Canes’ home venue, the hog spends time with fans outside the PNC Arena travelling in a specially designed wagon.
Kyle Eckenrode, who identifies himself as Hamilton’s dad, said the pig was not named after the Canes’ defenseman Dougie Hamilton, insisting that they had adopted the animal before the player joined to the team.
The man explained that the pig’s name is “a play on words, HAM-ilton.”
“This is great,” Eckenrode said. “We bring him around and people get excited about seeing him and take a bunch of pictures of him.”
Following the Canes’ 5-0 home win against the Washington Capitals in Game 3, Hamilton returned to the PNC Arena fan zone, bringing luck to his team again as the hosts took their second straight win beating the reigning Stanley Cup holders 2-1.
After losing two opening games the Hurricanes revived the intrigue, tying the series with the Caps at 2-2.