Chicken and a champion. Raising Canes hosts Andrei Svechnikov for promo event
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- Andrei Svechnikov worked a promotional shift at Raising Canes on N.C. State’s campus.
- Svechnikov handed meal boxes and drinks to three supporters and greeted hundreds outside.
- The event drew fans of all ages, including a pair of influencers and a golden retriever.
Raising Cane’s’ famous dipping sauce or iced tea may be the next unidentified substance in the Stanley Cup.
Carolina Hurricanes veteran Andrei Svechnikov appeared at the Southern fried chicken restaurant located across from N.C. State’s campus to “work” a shift at the restaurant, which shares a name.
A Cane at Cane’s, if you will.
The newly minted NHL Playoffs champion jokingly said, “Maybe!” when asked if he’d put one of the two liquids in the Stanley Cup when it’s his turn to have a day with the trophy.
Svechnikov held a brief press conference restaurant, worked with the Raising Cane’s team on internal content creation, greeted a few hundred fans of all ages outside and gave high-fives. He took to the building’s balcony to thank the throngs of supporters lining Hillsborough Street as well.
For anyone asking, he can, in fact, use the cups of dipping sauce as makeshift hockey pucks.
Most importantly, Svechnikov handed out meal boxes and drinks to three supporters.
“We flew back from Vegas last night, and the reaction is crazy,” Svechnikov said. “We went to downtown last night; just so many people, just how much excitement, just how much people (are) involved in hockey is special.”
The Canes won the franchise’s first title Sunday since Rod Brind’Amour was promoted to head coach, defeating the Vegas Golden Knights in six games. Svechnikov joined the team when Brind’Amour took over, but he’s been dreaming of this accomplishment since he was a child.
“I think all the town, all the state will remember this,” Svechnikov said. “We brought the Cup home. This is a special time right now.”
Fans line up outside Raising Cane’s
Savannah Carter, a rising senior at N.C. State, lined up outside the restaurant at 1:15 p.m. She was one of the three fans selected to meet and receive food service from the long-time winger.
None of her friends wanted to wait with her, but Carter said she wasn’t missing the opportunity.
Carter, from Topsail Beach, drove back to Raleigh this past week to attend watch parties — just in case they pulled off the win. She was at a party on Glenwood Avenue during Game 6 when the Canes clinched the title.
“It’s just so awesome, especially after following them for so many years, and the heartbreaking postseasons,” Carter said. “It still does not feel real, even three days later. It is just the best feeling, none of my sports teams have ever won a championship. It’s definitely something I’ll remember forever.”
The event drew plenty of fans who hoped to see Svechnikov up close and say hello. Five-year-old Cleo and her mother, Sheena Darji, stood in line for a glimpse of the player, because the family will miss the parade this Saturday. Cleo looked up to the roof and held a Stormy stuffed animal over her head when he addressed the crowd.
Jax, a 7-month-old Golden retriever, even joined the group.
Svechnikov’s appearance also drew influencers Johnny McIntyre and Amy Cortés-McIntyre. The couple met and married on Season 6 of the reality television show, “Love is Blind,” when it paired singles from Charlotte. Raising Cane’s invited the two to Raleigh for social media content.
McIntyre said he attended East Carolina, and several of his friends are Hurricanes fans. The couple doesn’t claim to be the biggest Canes fans, but they still try to watch games when they can.
Who knew chicken strips and hockey could bring so many people together?
“It’s been 20 years,” Svechnikov said while filming a promotional read. “This one’s for North Carolina. This one’s for the Canes.”
This story was originally published June 16, 2026 at 7:41 PM with the headline "Chicken and a champion. Raising Canes hosts Andrei Svechnikov for promo event."
