Vincent Trocheck has high hopes with the Carolina Hurricanes

By Olivia Lawrence
RP Show Intern

The 2021-22 NHL season began Tuesday night, but the Carolina Hurricanes have to wait anxiously for another two days before they can play their first game against the New York Islanders on Oct. 14.

“I think we’re all pretty anxious to get going,” said Hurricanes forward Vincent Trocheck on Tuesday’s episode of the Rod Pedersen Show. “It’s been a long training camp this year, and we only had a few preseason games, so everybody’s gearing up to go.”

With the start of the NHL season comes a lot of predictions—including the division leaders and who the next Stanley Cup Champion will be. Team names are being thrown around, one of them is Trocheck’s former team, the Florida Panthers. Carolina however, has not really been mentioned as a potential threat, despite the additions of new players—particularly a new goaltending room with Frederik Andersen and Antti Raanta.  Rod Pedersen asked Trocheck if he feels like the Hurricanes have not got as much respect as they deserve going into this season.  

“You know I don’t really think anybody in our locker room is thinking about it or listening to any of that outside noise,” said Trocheck. “We know how good of a team we have and we’ve proven that we can make it to the playoffs and give teams some trouble. So with the additions that we’ve had this summer, and the way we’ve played in the past, the leadership we have, the coach and we have, I think we are pretty confident with the team we have.” 

Hurricanes head coach Rod Brind’Amour will indeed be an asset to the team, he agreed to extend his contract with Carolina for three more years after last season. Not only did Brind’Amour play in the NHL for 20 seasons, he was also awarded the Jack Adams Award last year for becoming the first head coach in Hurricanes history to lead the team to the playoffs in three consecutive seasons. Brind’Amour also played for the Notre Dame Hounds in Wilcox Sask. so he is a respected hockey figure in the prairies.

“He’s been awesome ever since I got here,” said Trocheck, who has been with the Hurricanes since 2019. “I’ve loved what he’s done and just the way he goes about being a head coach. He really cares. I mean that’s first and foremost, he cares so much about this hockey team.” 

Carolina will have their work cut out for them at home on Thursday however, with the Islanders favoured to win the Metropolitan Division. Regardless, Trocheck believes the team is prepared. 

 “We’ve been doing a little bit of video on them and just obviously we have had so much time thinking about who we’re playing for our first game,” said Trocheck. “I think they’re a team that kind of matches up to our style of play. They play really hard and they’re a tough team to play against—very defensive. So it’ll be a good game with them on Thursday.”

Trocheck is entering his 11 NHL season, but it looks like he may not play in the season opener after Carolina just announced he has been placed on their injured reserve list.