Hurricanes to wear Hartford Whalers jerseys in throwback night

Just in time for Christmas, the Carolina Hurricanes are giving a gift to their long-ago fans.

The Hurricanes, who moved in 1997, will hold a Whalers Night on Dec. 23 in Raleigh, N.C., to honour the franchise’s NHL beginnings in Hartford, Conn.

The highlight will be the team wearing the vintage green uniforms that the Whalers wore from 1985-89 and during the 199091 season. It will include the iconic Whalers logo.

The Hurricanes included the Whalers’ goal song, Brass Bonanza, in its tweet.

This week’s announcement is in keeping with new owner Tom Dundon’s embrace of the franchise’s past. The Hurricanes began selling Whalers gear at the arena after he purchased the team in February.

“We’re proud of the history and traditions that we’ve built in 21 years in North Carolina. But we’ve never thrown away the records established during this franchise’s 18 NHL seasons in Connecticut,” Hurricanes general manager Don Waddell said.

The Whalers, who moved over from the World Hockey Association, never got past the second round of the playoffs. But they reached the post-season seven seasons in a row, during the time that they wore the green jerseys.

Since the move — brought about by low attendance and an inability to secure a new arena — the Hurricanes won a Stanley Cup in 2006. But they are mired in a nine-year playoff drought.

The Hurricanes will be playing the Boston Bruins, the Whalers’ longtime rival from the former Adams Division,on Dec. 23. Carolina will also wear the green jerseys in Boston on March 5.