NEW YORK – Fans can relive the Carolina Hurricanes’ historic victory with the 2026 Stanley Cup® Championship Film, premiering exclusively on ESPN2 on Sunday, Sept. 27, at 2 p.m. ET. The one-hour film will be available to fans in Canada on Sportsnet and the NHL’s YouTube channel on Sept. 28. The trailer for the 2026 Stanley Cup Championship Film is available to view here.
Produced by NHL Productions, the film looks back at the major moments of the 2025-26 season that led captain Jordan Staal, head coach Rod Brind’Amour and the Hurricanes to dominate the postseason and face the formidable Vegas Golden Knights in the Stanley Cup Final. A dozen players including Staal, Sebastian Aho, Brandon Bussi, Taylor Hall, Jordan Martinook and Jaccob Slavin appear in the film and share the epic six-game series of the Stanley Cup Final from their point of view.
The film features action-packed highlights from the electric matchup, including come-from-behind wins, overtime thrillers and unlikely heroes, interspersed with commentary from the players and coaches. It all culminates in Carolina’s long-awaited victory, where locker room access and emotional testimonies convey the utter joy of a dream come true for the Hurricanes – raising the Stanley Cup.
The 2026 Stanley Cup Championship Film will be available on ESPN+ and Hulu following the premiere and will re-air on ESPN2 on Sept. 27 at 9 p.m. ET. The film will debut on Sportsnet in Canada on Sept. 28 at 8 p.m. ET and re-air on SN1 at 10 p.m. ET. Fans outside the U.S. will be able to watch the film on Sept. 28 via the NHL’s YouTube channel and the League’s international broadcast partners.
The Carolina Hurricanes’ 2026 victory marked the franchise’s first championship title in 20 years. The defending champions will kick off the 2026-27 season by raising their Stanley Cup Championship banner on opening night, Sept. 29 on ESPN, before facing the Florida Panthers. The game is part of a tripleheader night of hockey on ESPN including the New York Rangers visiting the Boston Bruins and Chicago Blackhawks facing the Vegas Golden Knights. For broadcast times, visit NHL.com/schedule.
