Hurricanes anthem singer sings 'O Canada' in French before Game 1

EDITOR'S NOTE: This is a translated article first published in French from Monde de Stars staff writer Esad Avdic.

The Carolina Hurricanes scored points well before the first face-off of Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Final against the Montreal Canadiens. By having the Canadian national anthem performed in French at the Lenovo Center in Raleigh, the organization made a gesture that deeply touched Quebec and Canadian fans. Young singer Mason Greer delivered a bilingual rendition of "O Canada," while Adam Lee Decker, a longtime Hurricanes singer for the past nine years, performed "The Star-Spangled Banner" with his trademark energy.

A classy gesture applauded by the fans

The video of Mason Greer's performance quickly went viral on social media, garnering hundreds of reactions and dozens of complimentary comments. Quebecers and Canadians alike were quick to express their gratitude to the Hurricanes organization for this show of respect for the French language.

The NHL's post sparked a flurry of enthusiastic comments. Many fans highlighted the rarity of such a gesture from an American team. "Wow, so classy from the Hurricanes! Bravo!" was one of the reactions. Others wrote messages like, "Finally, an American organization that respects French, hats off to Carolina!" or "Now that's respect. Thank you to the Hurricanes for recognizing that Canada has two official languages." Many online users also took the opportunity to directly congratulate young Mason Greer on the quality of his performance, noting that he delivered a touching and respectful rendition of the Canadian national anthem.

It must be said that this type of bilingual performance remains quite rare in American arenas. Jim Cornelison, the renowned lead singer of the Chicago Blackhawks, is one of the few performers recognized throughout the NHL for regularly offering the Canadian national anthem in both of the country's official languages. The fact that the Hurricanes chose to do the same for this Eastern Conference Final was seen as a sign of great goodwill towards the Montreal Canadiens and their Francophone fan base.

Listen to the performance by young Mason Greer:

Adam Lee Decker, a pillar of hockey nights in Raleigh

As for the American national anthem, Adam Lee Decker once again delivered a confident performance. The man who has sung the Star-Spangled Banner at Hurricanes games for the past nine years has become a true fan favorite, especially during the playoffs. Decker has previously explained how special these hockey nights are for him. "You soak up the atmosphere, you smell the popcorn, you smell the ice, you feel all the excitement in your body," he said. For him, performing the national anthem has profound meaning, both for himself and for the thousands of fans who trust him night after night.

The combination of Mason Greer's French-language performance and Adam Lee Decker's usual high energy created a memorable pre-game atmosphere at the Lenovo Center. Fans of both teams were able to share a moment of connection before the action began on the ice.

Several social media commentators were quick to point out the stark contrast between this evening's performance and the controversial performances heard during the Canadiens' previous series against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Amanda Breivogel's rendition of the Canadian national anthem in Tampa sparked a social media storm in Quebec and across Canada.