San Francisco Giants are World Series Champions!!

For the 3^rd time in the last 5 years the San Francisco Giants are World Series Champions!!! The Giants finished off the Kanas City Royals with a 3-2 Game 7 win with the help of World Series MVP Madison Bumgarner and Pablo Sandoval. 

  

Greg Holland

Both organizations played an amazing series and each team had stars with local ties to North Carolina. Royals closing pitcher Greg Holland is a native of Morganton, North Carolina and spent his college years at Western Carolina University. Aside from being a standout closer this season and postseason, Holland flew coast to coast during the series against the Los Angles Angels to see the birth of his first child on October 1^st. He was back the next night closing out the game and pick up a Royals victory!

World Series MVP Madison Bumgarner

Another local standout in the World Series is no other than the MVP himself Madison Bumgarner. Bumgarner from Hickory, North Carolina is a 25 year old pitching sensation. In the World Series alone he pitched 21 innings (most all time) and had a record era of 0.43. After being lights out in both his starts the last start coming in game 5; he entered game 7 as a reliever/closer and pitched the last 5 innings without giving up a run. During the whole World Series the North Carolina native only allowed 1 run.

Even though all the focus is on the Giants; congratulations to the Royals on the best season in 25 years and having an amazing postseason that fell one 1 game and 1 run short of reclaiming the crown!  

Now that the 2014 season is over lets prepare for a new commissioner, talented rookies making debuts, and old faces in new places in 2015!!          

Local baseball kicks off in 167 days when the Durham Bulls open at the DBAP against the Norfolk Tide!!

See you in April!!!

~Julie 

Review: NC Theatre's 'A Chorus Line'

A Chorus Line is kicking off North Carolina Theatre’s 2014-15 season in a big way.  North Carolina Theatre is the region’s premiere nonprofit professional regional theatre and has been producing professional Broadway revivals for 30 years.  The current season includes some amazing titles beginning with the singular sensation that is A Chorus Line.

A Chorus Line tells the story of 17 dancers who are auditioning to be on the chorus line of an unnamed Broadway show.  The show centers on the dancers’ struggles and determination to get the job.   It is based on interviews of real chorus dancers by director and choreographer Michael Bennett.  Bennett transformed the stories he heard from dancers into a groundbreaking musical hit. Each character in the show is based off of the story Bennett heard from a dancer.

The woman who was the inspiration for the character of “Val”, Mitiz Hamilton, is the director and choreographer for NC Theatre’s production of the Broadway show.  Hamilton also played “Val” on Broadway and in the original London cast, and has directed more than 40 regional productions of A Chorus Line. 

NC Theatre is known for producing quality shows with casts of Broadway caliber talent, and A Chorus Line is no exception.  Every dancer in the show illuminates the struggles and hard work that it takes to be a dancer in the chorus line, while demonstrating the joy that comes from giving everything for your passion. 

Especially captivating is Jessica Lee Goldyn in the role of “Cassie”.  Her dancing was fantastic and even when she is in the line your focus easily falls to her.  The dance during “The Music and the Mirror” is long, but Goldyn’s movements kept it compelling throughout the entire number. 

Other standouts include Rachel Schur in the role of “Val” which can’t be an easy role to undertake when your director is the real-life inspiration for the character.  Schur hits her lines spot on and had the audience rolling during “Dance 10; Look 3”.  Hilary Michael Thompson played “Sheila” brilliantly and Alexandra Fassler in the role of “Diana” nailed the 11 o’clock number “What I Did For Love”.

The show culminates in a quintessential musical theatre number instead of the usual curtain call.  The final number is one of the best parts of the show and the set lends itself perfectly to making it a superb closing number.

Long story short, Mitzi’s still got it! This production is well worth seeing!

The show opened Tuesday night October 14 and runs through the 19^th at Duke Energy Center for the Performing arts. Buy tickets HERE.

Regular Season Game 1: Islanders Vs. Hurricanes

2014-2015 Carolina Hurricanes

183 days since the last regular season game was played in PNC Arena; a new coach and general manager have been added but the results remain the same; the Hurricanes lose 5-3 to kick off the 2014-2015 NHL season. Majority of the 18,680 fans in attendance were not pleased with the result but yet can't be to shocked.

Cam Ward was the starting goaltender and on the first 12 shots he allowed 3 goals. Playing the whole 60 minutes and facing a total of 26 shots Ward let in 5. Even thought the offensive pressure was hardly there and the defense hardly showed up the Hurricanes seemed to go 2 for 5 on the power play which is an improvement.

Johnny Boychuck

The Islanders made some big changes last Saturday with the additions of Nick Leddy from Chicago and Johnny Boychuck from Boston. Boychuck had a big debut tonight with 1 goal and 2 assist and helping the Islanders go 2 of 3 on the power play.

Elias Lindholm led the Hurricanes in the face-off circle winning 75% of the draws he took. The defensive pair of Sekera and Faulk led the Hurricanes in ice time both going over 21 minutes. Making his return to Raleigh tonight Tim Gleason showed he is still the roughest guy on the ice; throwing 6 big hits. There were also 3 players making their NHL debut tonight; Victor Rask and Patrick Brown for the Hurricanes and Griffin Reinhart for the Islander.

Hurricanes return to PNC Arena for the final home game of October (State Fair comes to town) on Tuesday to face Buffalo on National TV.

Reminder Caniacs its a 7:30 start due to being on NBC. 

Gerbe gets the 1st Hurricanes goal of 2014-2015 season

Three Stars 
1. Brock Nelson (Islanders): 2 Goals, 2 Assist
2. Johnny Boychuck (Islanders): 1 Goal, 2 Assist
3. John Tavares (Islanders): 3 Assist



Hurricanes Scoring
1st Period: None
2nd: None
3rd: Gerbe (1) ASST: Faulk (1) Sekera (1)
Terry (1) ASST: Sekera (2) Nash(1)
E. Staal (1) ASST: Lindholm (1) Tlusty (1)

Preseason Game 2: Sabres Vs. Hurricanes Recap

It was the last home preseason game of the season (Yes, we only had 2 this season) but that just means that opening night is a WEEK away!!! Tonights 5-1 victory over the Buffalo Sabres was a great team effort and a lot of good things that are direct reflections of the hard work the player and Coach Peters have put into play. Tonight was a night of firsts as well; Elias Lindholm in his second season got his first career hat trick and Chad LaRose made his first appearance in PNC Arena since the 2012-2013 season.

Chad LaRose makes his return

Chad LaRose is a beloved Hurricane among many in the organization and fans! Getting to start the game on the opening line LaRose only lasted a 1:08 until he received a 5 minute major of boarding and then a game misconduct. The first step toward his comeback fell short of his expectations but everyone was excited to see #59 back on the ice. Chad will get another chance to make the Hurricanes Opening Night Roster on Sunday afternoon when the Canes take on the Capitals in the final preseason game!

Congrats Lindholm!! 1st Career Hat Trick

The Hurricanes posted 37total shots on Michael Neuvirth who only stopped 32. The offensive pressure was very consistent and the Hurricanes were very active around the net. Passing was crisp and the breakouts from defense to offense were quick and crispy. Continuing with the positive success from the start of training camp, the PowerPlay was once again affective!

 One thing that really stood out tonight was the performance of Cam Ward who stopped 19 out of 20 shots he face and looked like the Cam Ward of old. What helped Ward with only seeing 20 shots was the defensive presence around the crease. Ward's preformance was great he was moving from side to side quickly and used his stick effectively.Another strong night in the face off circle for the Hurricanes winning 39 of 59. Riley Nash led the team with an impressive 79% winning 11-14. This has been another area that Assistant Coach Rod Brind'Amour has been working with the players on during practices.

Cam Ward

Important Dates:
Oct 10: OPENING NIGHT vs. Islanders
Oct 14: National TV Game (NBC) vs. Sabres 7:30 Start

2nd Star Nathan Gerbe 

Three Stars
1. Elias Lindholm - Hat Trick: 3 Goals
2. Nathan Gerbe - 1 Goal 1 Asst
3. Jeff Skinner - 1 Goal




Hurricane Goals 
1st Period: Gerbe (1) ASST: Semin (1) McClement (1)
2nd Period: Lindholm (1) ASST: Sekera (1) Rask (1)
Skinner (1) ASST: Gerbe (1)
Lindholm (2) ASST: Hainsey (1) Murphy (1) 3rd Period: Lindholm (3) ASST: Faulk (1) Sekera (2)