Workrate Hockey - June 23, 2026

On Saturday, more than 150,000 180,000* people (I did not personally count) descended onto Fayetteville Street in downtown Raleigh to do something that 10 years ago I couldn't envision - celebrate a Stanley Cup championship. I'll admit it - I wasn't there. The thought of that many people in one place in late June weather in North Carolina just wasn't calling out to me. Literally 30% of the population of Raleigh, just congregated in one area - visually, it was an amazing and joyous thing to see. In reality, it was a panic attack waiting to happen. [Editor's Note: local channel ABC11 learned Sunday that Raleigh police increased the estimate from 150,000 to 180,000.]

And while the thought of being in that swarm bothers me, it also bothered me not to be there. There's a part of me that feels like we earned that - the people that were there when the barn was maybe 25% full, and now get pushed aside by the people who only know the Brind'Amour years and success and don't get triggered by hearing the words "we like our team". It's, of course, selfish to think that way, because whether you call them bandwagon fans or newbies or something else because I don't know what else you'd call them, it's them that will (hopefully) keep this team successful and will grow the fanbase so that when the bad times come - and they always come for every team at some point - those fans will stick around.