It wasn't the first time Jordan Martinook had thrown out the first pitch in Durham Bulls Athletic Park, but it was the first time he'd done so in company of Lord Stanley.
Tuesday evening, the Durham Bulls – who play in the MiLB and serve as the Triple-A affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays – had some special guests as they faced the Norfolk Tides. Interestingly, it all started thanks to a silly exchange on X between the Carolina Hurricanes ' alternate captain and the Bulls.
On July 14, Martinook posted that he had lost his old Hurricanes x Bulls jersey in the Stanley Cup Championship parade, requesting a new one. A couple weeks later, the Bulls responded that they'd talk if he brought them the Stanley Cup.
Well, that's what he did, and as such, he was given a replacement to the one he'd lost.
Martinook lobbed out the first pitch , joined by the Stanley Cup as he lifted it overhead to the roars of fans, flanked on both sides of the mound by his oldest son, Chase, and daughter, Ivy.
Hurricanes mascot, Stormy, was also in the park for the event.
"Whenever you can be around it, it just makes you happy," Martinook told WRAL's Pat Welter. "I made a vow to be around it as much as possible, and nights like these – I'm gonna take advantage of it."
Martinook also spoke on the rapidly approaching hockey season, and his hopes of winning it all again.
"We're back at it right now, and we're going hard…Obviously, we still get to have nights like these, and be celebrating. But, yeah, I think once you get a taste of it, you want it again."
Ahead of the game, and throughout it, the Cup was displayed in the outfield concourse for photos with fans.
Despite the excitement around the day, the Cup didn't seem to bring the Bulls the luck they needed, losing the crucial game 3-1. Playing in their second-to-last home series of the season – scrambling for a playoff spot – they will face the Tides four more times, four more days in a row.
For those who missed the special game, or just didn't get their hockey fill at the ballpark, the Bulls will host a Hurricanes themed night during their next home series on September 12, versus the Nashville Sounds – the Triple-A affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers.
Also Read:: Josiah Slavin to Remain with Carolina Hurricanes System, Signs with Chicago Wolves
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