In Memory of Number 3 (for those who remember Steve Chiasson)

These Canes are not the same as the '99 team


So much has changed in the 10 years since that first NHL playoff series in North Carolina, one that ended in tragedy when defenseman Steve Chiasson died the morning after the team's season ended with a Game 6 loss to the Bruins. Yet for those involved, the pain of loss -- of a teammate and a series -- remains as raw as ever.

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Hurricanes coach Paul Maurice still says that series may have gone a different way had Ron Francis not turned his ankle in Game 1, and Martin Gelinas had a chance to win Game 5 in overtime before Anson Carter won it for the Bruins in double overtime.

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Had either of those events transpired differently, perhaps Chiasson would still be alive today. But he is not, killed when he crashed his truck on Falls of Neuse Road in the early hours of the morning of May 3, 1999, after the team returned from Boston. He was 32.

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The team gathered for a party at Gary Roberts' house in North Raleigh. Sometime before 4 a.m., Chiasson climbed into his Chevrolet pickup truck to drive home. He never made it.

http://www.newsobserver.com/796/story/1521397.html

Sad that he died so young.

that "best demonstrates determination and dedication". It doesn't necessarily go to the best skilled player. This year it went to Brind'Amour because he fought back from major knee surgery.

Yes, pretty tragic. He had three young children, Michael, Ryan and Stephanie.