Whaler Fans Remain Loyal

The chant went up in the middle of the second period from a section in the upper deck of the Greensboro Coliseum: “Let’s Go Whalers, Let’s Go Whalers.”

Yes, this was the home opener for the Carolina Hurricanes and a historic hockey night for North Carolina, but hundreds of Hartford Whalers fans still couldn’t let go, some driving 12 hours Friday to see their former team in action against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

A crowd of 18,661 was announced for the first regular season NHL game in the state, five months after the franchise announced it was leaving Connecticut. Whaler green and blue jerseys dotted the stands, some filling large blocks of seats and many carrying banners.

“It was good to see them,” Hurricane center Keith Primeau said of the Hartford fans. “We knew when we left we were always going to have a gathering, a following from the Connecticut area and once again it was there tonight.”

One sheet hung from the upper deck read: “We Still Bleed Green.”

Another fan had his faced painted green, blue and white.

“It’s really good to see a couple of these guys come out with the banners,” said Steve Scheyd, 22, who drove from Connecticut all day to see his favorite team. “I thought there would be 10, maybe 20 of us, but I could not believe it when we drove down here we saw this many Whalers fans. Whaler fans will die green.”

When former Whaler owner Peter Karmanos helped with the dropping of the ceremonial first puck, he received as many boos as cheers.

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The New Jersey Devils re-signed left wing Brian Rolston to a multiyear contract. Terms of the contract were not disclosed.

However, right wing Bill Guerin remains unsigned.

Rolston, 24, played in 81 games last season and had 18 goals, 27 assists and 45 points, all career highs.

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Colorado Avalanche All-Star defenseman Sandis Ozolinsh will miss at least two games after separating his right shoulder in Wednesday’s season-opener against the Dallas Stars.

Ozolinsh, who led all NHL defensemen with 23 goals last season, didn’t travel with the team to Calgary for Friday night’s game and will also miss Sunday’s road game with the Edmonton Oilers.

Listed as day-to-day with a mild separation, Ozolinsh may be able to return for Tuesday’s home game against the Boston Bruins.

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Washington Capital goaltender Bill Ranford will sit out at least a week with a groin injury suffered in Wednesday’s season-opener against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Ranford, who left the game after being hit in the groin by a slapshot, was replaced by Olaf Kolzig, who will start in goal during Ranford’s absence.