The Carolina Hurricanes’ recent road trip took an unexpected turn when the team ran into a series of travel obstacles, ultimately resulting in a unique late-night adventure involving a stranger, a closed McDonald’s, and a determined NHL defenseman. The Hurricanes were in the midst of a six-game road trip that started in mid-October, and they were hoping to keep up their momentum after securing a 4-1 victory over the Seattle Kraken on Saturday night.
With their spirits high following the win, the Hurricanes were preparing to fly to Vancouver to complete the final leg of their road trip with a game against the Canucks scheduled for Monday. However, their travel plans were derailed when their team plane encountered mechanical issues, forcing them to make a last-minute pivot.
Instead of flying, the Hurricanes had to board a bus for the approximately three-hour journey north to Vancouver. The sudden change not only disrupted their travel schedule, but it also threw off their postgame meal plans, which typically involved food being provided on the flight.
With their usual in-flight catering no longer an option, the team had to find an alternative for a late-night bite.
According to SportsNet’s Dan Murphy, the Hurricanes decided to stop at a McDonald’s in the vicinity of the location where they gathered to meet their replacement bus in Everett, Washington.
Defenseman Brent Burns took the lead in organizing the team’s fast-food fix, reportedly placing a massive order rumored to include around 100 cheeseburgers. Burns even managed to rack up some serious points on the McDonald’s app in the process.
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However, the Hurricanes hit another snag when they realized that the McDonald’s restaurant had closed its doors for the night, leaving the drive-thru as their only option for getting food.
To make matters worse, the drive-thru had a strict policy that only allowed customers in vehicles to be served—posing a problem for the bus full of hungry hockey players who were on foot.
Thankfully, Brent Burns wasn’t ready to give up on his mission. With his distinctive appearance— Burns approached a random driver who was waiting in line at the drive-thru.
He managed to convince the stranger to let him hop into their car so he could place the order, a move that ultimately saved the night for the Hurricanes.
Thanks to Burns’ quick thinking and the kindness of a stranger, the Hurricanes were able to get their much-needed McDonald’s fix before continuing their journey to Vancouver.
While the night didn’t go exactly as planned, the players were able to laugh about the unexpected adventure and appreciate the memorable experience.
For the Hurricanes, it was a reminder that even in the world of professional sports, things don’t always go smoothly—but with a little creativity and a lot of determination, they were able to turn a potentially frustrating situation into a lighthearted and entertaining story.
At least in the end, everything worked out, and the team got their cheeseburgers, making it a road trip to remember.
