When Rod “The Bod” Brind’Amour retired at the end of this past season, it was a question of “when” not “if” he would get his number retired by the team he helped bring a Stanley Cup to in 2006. The question of “when” has now been answered by the Carolina Hurricanes.
Jim Rutherford, President and General Manager of the National Hockey League’s Carolina Hurricanes, today announced that the team will honor former captain Rod Brind’Amour by retiring his No. 17 sweater prior to the Hurricanes’ game against the Philadelphia Flyers on Friday, Feb. 18, 2011. Brind’Amour announced his retirement from hockey on June 30.
“There is no image of our franchise more memorable than that of Rod Brind’Amour, our captain, hoisting the Stanley Cup above his head, the emotions from a lifetime of hard work and dedication pouring out of him,” said Rutherford. “There is no doubt that Rod’s number belongs in the rafters of the RBC Center, and February 18 will surely be a very special night for our fans and everyone connected with the Hurricanes organization.”
It’s all the more fitting that the Hurricanes will be hosting the Philadelphia Flyers on this night as the Flyers were Brind’Amour’s other main franchise throughout his career. Although he was originally drafted by the St. Louis Blues, the Flyers are who he made his name with originally. With the Hurricanes, he became the captain of a championship team and brought their first and only championship to date.