Ottawa-born and Campbell River-raised Rod Brind’Amour, head coach of the Carolina Hurricanes, is officially a two‑time Stanley Cup champion.
At 55 years old, Brind’Amour, who is still known by his famous nickname, “Rod the Bod,” added to his impressive resume on June 14, 2026, at T-Mobile Arena, when he coached Carolina to a Game 6 Stanley Cup-clinching 3-0 win against the Vegas Golden Knights.
Winning the Stanley Cup from behind the bench is a new experience for Brind’Amour, who, back in 2006, captained the team to their first championship victory. It was a historic moment for the franchise when commissioner Gary Bettman handed the Hurricanes that inaugural cup.
Last month’s victory was just as exhilarating for this near Hall of Famer, who, over his 20-year career with the St. Louis Blues, Philadelphia Flyers, and Hurricanes, played 1,484 games and produced 462 goals, 732 assists, 1,184 points, and a plus/minus of +46.
A closer look at the Hurricanes’ history shows that Brind’Amour’s name appears quite a few times in the record books, including ranking 13th in club history with 174 goals and 6th in points with 473. Brind’Amour also ranks eighth in club history in ice time at 14,600:48.
In comparing the emotions of winning the Cup as a player and a coach, Brind’Amour stated: “It is different. As a player, my whole life growing up, all I wanted to do was win a Stanley Cup. Since I was five years old and put on skates, I wanted the cup. And I wanted it for me. Obviously, for my teammates and everything, but it was like, I gotta win this thing, and obviously we did in 2006.”
Now, Brind’Amour joins an exclusive group as only the seventh person to win a Stanley Cup as both a player and a coach for the same team — a feat not accomplished since 1956. He describes the elation of winning the cup and how it changes a player’s life, adding, “… you want it for the guys you’re coaching. You want them to have that feeling. So it’s kind of watching it through different eyes and having a lot more gratitude for it. It’s rewarding to actually want it for other people. It’s kind of like watching your kids. Whatever they do, you’re proud of them, and you want them to excel. That’s kind of what it was like sitting back behind the bench watching these guys, and (I’m) just extremely happy that they were able to accomplish their dream.”
The successful quest for the franchise’s second Stanley Cup began when Carolina clinched the top seed in the Eastern Conference with 113 regular-season points before making a loud statement in the early rounds of the playoffs with series sweeps against first the Ottawa Senators, followed by the Philadelphia Flyers.
That undefeated streak ended in the Eastern Conference Finals, where Carolina needed five games in their best-of-7 series to defeat the Montreal Canadiens and advance to the Stanley Cup Finals.
Since May 2018, when Brind’Amour was named Hurricanes head coach, Carolina has made the playoffs in eight straight seasons. His coaching style is characterised by intensity, discipline, possession-based hockey, aggressive forechecking, a strict work ethic and, of course, being in top game shape. It’s not surprising that Brind’Amour occupies the top spot on the franchise list for most career coaching wins — another one for the record books.
During the Stanley Cup parade, when asked about his coaching and what makes him so successful, Brind’Amour replied: “Number one is to play to an identity. And that identity is, we gotta compete our asses off every night. You have to take pride in what you do and who you’re doing it with and how you do it.”
Not surprisingly, Hurricanes owner Tom Dundon stated after the Stanley Cup win that Brind’Amour can coach Carolina for as long as he wants.
In addition to the Stanley Cups, Brind’Amour won the Selke Trophy in 2006 and again in 2007 for his exceptional two-way game. As a player, he is also recognized as excelling in the face-off circle and providing great leadership.
It’s time for this two-time Stanley Cup Champion to take his rightful place in the Hockey Hall of Fame.
Photos: 2006 Hurricane Stanley Cup win via www.newsobserver.com with photo by Walt Unks. 2026 Stanley Cup win photo via Carolina Hurricanes.
