Photo credit: James Guillory-Imagn Images
Bad news has officially emerged for the Carolina Hurricanes in the middle of the Eastern Conference Final against the Montreal Canadiens.
The Carolina organization is currently dealing with a major logistical headache because of the Formula 1 Canadian Grand Prix taking place in Montreal this weekend.
And this is precisely the kind of issue that can affect players’ concentration ahead of the crucial upcoming games at the Bell Centre.
All hotels in the Montreal area are fully booked because of the massive tourist influx caused by the Grand Prix.
Major lodging headache hits Hurricanes before their arrival in Montreal
The logistical situation is extremely concerning for the Hurricanes.
Upon arriving in Montreal Sunday night, the Hurricanes will not be able to stay near the Bell Centre.
The organization will have to settle for hotels located near Montréal-Trudeau Airport in Dorval.
And the Hurricanes organization even considered going as far as Mont-Tremblant to find available rooms!
Mike Sundheim, the Hurricanes’ vice president of communications, delivered a revealing statement.
“At one point, we were even considering the possibility of going to Mont-Tremblant.”
– Mike Sundheim
Traveling with an NHL team requires booking close to sixty hotel rooms. Players. Management. Coaching staff. Medical staff. Equipment staff. Communications department. An entire organization needing to be relocated.
And the logistics of restaurant reservations add another layer of complexity.
This is exactly the kind of distraction that can truly affect a team in the middle of a conference final, especially for athletes as routine-driven and superstitious as NHL players.
From a fatigue and travel standpoint, it is quite a headache, and it could prevent the Canes players from sleeping (as they normally do) in the afternoon before the game.
Not easy under the circumstances.
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Unexpected setback hits Hurricanes in middle of Canadiens playoff series
Do you think the Hurricanes’ accommodation issues because of the Canadian Grand Prix will really affect their performance against the Canadiens at the Bell Centre?