The contest between the Carolina Hurricanes and the Montreal Canadiens held little consequence for the Hurricanes in terms of standings. However, it was a significant moment for Skyler Brind’Amour and Domenick Fensore as they made their NHL debuts.
Both Brind’Amour and Fensore hail from NCAA backgrounds and were called up following strong performances with the Hurricanes’ AHL affiliate in Chicago. A notable aspect of the game was that Skyler Brind’Amour played under the guidance of his father, Rod Brind’Amour, the team’s head coach. This occurrence marked only the eighth time in NHL history that a player has played for a team coached by their father.
Rod Brind’Amour expressed his pride regarding his son’s debut: “Obviously, it’s a special moment for Skyler and myself. I’ve watched him all of his life, and how hard he’s worked.” Skyler played over 15 minutes and shared his excitement post-game. “It was a lot of fun. Obviously, it’s the best league in the world,” he said.
Despite some critical analysis from Rod Brind’Amour about Skyler’s gameplay, “He had the one mess up on the second goal. He covered the wrong guy and took him too far in and then they screened the goalie on a long shot. If there’s no screen, it’s not going in,” he acknowledged his son’s overall performance, stating, “But other than that, I thought he handled himself pretty well.”
Skyler Brind’Amour, originally from Raleigh, became the fourth Raleigh-born player to compete in the NHL. Rod Brind’Amour continued, “I was happy for him because he earned it. He’s earned it. He’s played solid,” noting his son’s proficiency in faceoffs and penalty killing.
Fensore, who has faced skepticism due to his size, played over 17 minutes, impressing with his skating ability. Rod Brind’Amour had words of encouragement for Fensore, stating, “Another kid who is undersized, that no one thinks is going to make it,” and lauded his strong season with, “[He] just has to keep proving everyone wrong and he’s just had a great year.”
Fensore is part of a group of Hurricanes players who have transitioned from the AHL to make their mark. “It’s great. We’ve been battling all year and it’s nice to be rewarded,” Fensore said during an intermission interview. Both Brind’Amour and Fensore joined the ranks of other Hurricanes making their NHL debuts this season.
