After nearly a two-hour delay, the Hurricanes-Red Wings game was postponed on Monday night due to an “unplayable” ice surface caused by mechanical issue with the PNC Arena cooling system.
#Canes Statement on Postponed Game vs. #RedWings: https://t.co/fKYMqkxwD3 pic.twitter.com/0tdmUFQDcK
— x – Carolina Hurricanes (@Canes) December 20, 2016
The #Canes tonight outlined ticket & parking exchange details for the postponed game → Details: https://t.co/VeYmSZFmx8 #DETvsCAR
— x – Carolina Hurricanes (@Canes) December 20, 2016
According to the Associated Press, the temperature of the ice was 24 degrees, when it’s supposed to be 18 degrees.
The cooling issue was eventually fixed, but NHL rules state that a game can’t begin when one of the teams has another game under 22 hours later (the Red Wings are scheduled to play in Tampa Bay on Tuesday night). A makeup date for the game is expected to be announced over the next 48 hours.
During the delay, the Hurricanes’ Fox Sports South TV broadcast had to improvise, and decided to celebrate the birthday of color commentator Tripp Tracy. The crew presented Tracy with a cake, which he then shoved his face into multiple times and yelled, “Let’s get this game underway! Let’s play hockey!”
.@FOXSportsSouth wishes #Tripp a happy birthday pic.twitter.com/ar12OVwJB7
— Bally Sports: Canes (@CanesOnBally) December 20, 2016
Look at that commitment, that intensity! pic.twitter.com/76dHd0bxgx
— Bally Sports: Canes (@CanesOnBally) December 20, 2016
Unfortunately, there would of course be no hockey for Tracy, but I have a feeling that intense guy still found a way to enjoy his birthday.
About Matt Clapp
Matt is an editor/writer at The Comeback and Awful Announcing.
He can be reached by email at mclapp@thecomeback.com.