The Stanley Cup visits NC’s State Legislative Building. Were the tarps off?

Adding to its long list of destinations around North Carolina, the Stanley Cup visited a place it hasn’t seen in 20 years: the State Legislative Building.

Carolina Hurricanes captain and Conn Smythe trophy winner Jordan Staal carried the Stanley Cup into and out of both the House and Senate chambers, surrounded by grinning lawmakers and visitors packed into the upstairs galleries.

Lawmakers also applauded Canes coach Rod Brind’Amour, alternate captain Jordan Martinook and Carolina Hurricanes CEO Brian Fork. The group had all eyes in the legislature on them as staffers and visitors gathered around the center of the top floor to watch the cup move from chamber to chamber.

The Carolina Hurricanes, Stanley Cup champions, were celebrated during a parade and rally with about 180,000 people in downtown Raleigh on Saturday.

The team was honored by both the state House, with a unanimously approved proclamation, and the state Senate, with a statement.

Both documents recognized players for their hard work and a standout season, including how the team broke franchise records for goals and established itself “as one of the most complete teams in the entire league through elite defense, relentless forechecking, veteran leadership and exceptional goaltending,” according to the proclamation.

Several lawmakers from both chambers and both sides of the aisle shared personal stories of how the team has inspired families across North Carolina.

Tarps off ... on the House floor?

Rep. Mike Schietzelt, a Wake County Republican, joked that he was informed that “tarps off” — a craze where Canes fans take their shirts off and wave them like rally towels — “would not be appropriate for the House floor” because of dress code standards.

“I won’t plead my case here, but as we move into next year, I think that’s something we need to take a look at for when the Canes bring Lord Stanley back here next year,” he said.

The Cup visits the chambers

House Speaker Destin Hall said “North Carolina is a hockey state now, thanks to you all and the work you’ve done.”

In 2006, Hall said, the Stanley Cup was placed to the right of the speaker, which is where it sat on Tuesday.

“It’s now a tradition,” he said. “But let’s try to make it an annual tradition, and let’s not wait 20 years. We’ll see you back here same time, same place next year.”

Senate Leader Phil Berger joked with the four Canes representatives that the Stanley Cup was a bit bent, referencing the hardware’s adventures that include Glenwood Avenue, and commended the team for their win.

“The ability of sport to bring people together, the fact that folks that have completely different outlooks on life, their life situation is so different from others, to unify behind something like a team that really is showing excellence on the ice and, in many respects, off of the ice,” he said.

Entering the Senate, Staal raised the cup high and kissed it as legislators cheered in a standing ovation.

Hall invited Brind’Amour up to say a few words, who said he was not prepared to speak but could “wing it” and would have “to watch what I say.”

Brind’Amour said that although he couldn’t help lawmakers “push much across,” noting that he also doesn’t “really even know what it is that you’re trying to push across, to be honest with you,” he said he saw at the parade “a lot of people coming together and supporting us.”

“That’s the one thing our team can do, is unify,” he said. “ ... I’m not really into the political stuff. To be quite honest, I try not to be because it gets frustrating when I watch. ... It’s amazing when I talk about what a team can do. When people can work together, what can actually be accomplished.”

This story was originally published June 23, 2026 at 4:14 PM.

Esther Frances

The News & Observer

Esther Frances covers politics, the state legislature and lobbying for The News & Observer.