Is it a Bird? Is it a Plane? No, it’s Captain Cane!
If you attended a Canes game during the 2021-22 season you’ve likely seen Canes super-fan Zachary Hampton cheering from his seat behind the glass. Around Enmax Centre Hampton is better known as Captain Cane, a moniker he has rightfully earned as one of the Lethbridge Hurricanes most passionate and dedicated fans.
“I became a hockey fan during the 2002 Olympics in Salt Lake City, and have been ever since. I love the statistical side of the game, I’m a huge statistician. I always bought those hockey stat books from the previous year and I would study them. That’s the reputation I got over the last twenty years. I’m a statistician, a hockey historian.”
Born and raised in Lethbridge, Hampton is a lifelong Hurricanes fan. “My family started taking me to Canes games when I was a kid, during the 2002-2003 season. We weren’t season ticket holders on anything, but we’d go to a few games each year. The 2017 playoffs with Tyler Wong and Stuart Skinner, that was the first year I went to every playoff game. That’s when I started to think about what I could do to stand out as a fan, to be unique. ”
When asked where he found the inspiration for Captain Cane, Hampton recalled a game in enemy territory with a particularly enthusiastic fan. “ A few years ago I traveled to Medicine Hat for game seven, where the Canes won in OT. I hate giving the Tigers any credit, but the Tigers had a guy there who dressed up like crazy, he was named Slapshot. He had this black curly haired wig, and he was getting the fans revved up before the game. They even brought him out onto the ice. I love seeing fans show their passion for the game, and I thought it would be fun to be a super-fan.”
Hampton took the off-season following the 2017 playoffs to consider what he could do, and attended his first game in costume during the 2018 playoffs. At that game, Hampton and his friend, Jaylen Korver, were selected to come on-ice for an intermission game. “The in-game host Tony Deys saw my outfit, referred to me as ‘Captain Cane’, and the name stuck!” Hampton spent the remainder of that game starting chants and getting fellow fans excited. “The best atmosphere is when everyone is involved. We want to give our players the best experience possible, to make them feel appreciated. The heart of it for us is to be there for our team.”
Hampton isn’t alone in his role, the section of particularly passionate Hurricanes fans has grown since Captain Cane came to be. “I’d be remiss not to mention The Storm!” Hampton laughed, when asked about his friend and fellow fan known for his iconic red morph suit. “He’s had more requests for photos than I have! These kids go running up to him ‘Hey red suit guy!’ I think people have gotten used to seeing me around, I need to step up my game over the off-season!” Jaylen Korver also frequents the games, and although more subdued in his attire, is an equally loyal Hurricanes fan.
The crew made a handful of road trips throughout the season, including one to Edmonton during the playoffs and one to Moose Jaw and Regina when the Tim Hortons Brier was taking place in Enmax Centre in March. Hampton recalled the game in Moose Jaw as one of his favourite moments as Captain Cane. “The Canes won in Moose Jaw, so we decided to go cheer for them when they headed back onto the bus. We would cheer for every single person that came out - Forbes, Kisio, whoever. It went on for a good 45 minutes,” Hampton laughed. “A few guys, like Nash and Arntsen, were really into it. As the bus was pulling out it stops right in front of us, and Kisio steps out. He thanked us for coming, and told us how much it meant to them to have us there. He’s a passionate coach, to hear that from him was really something special.”
Although it's four months away, Hampton is already looking ahead to the Hurricanes return in the fall. He’s optimistic about the young core of players that Peter Anholt has built, keeping the window of playoff contention open for years to come. “The team surprised a lot of people this year, they surprised us too. We beat a lot of strong teams to make the playoffs. The fact that we’re returning almost everyone next year makes me really excited for the upcoming season. If the team’s already this good right now, it makes me excited to think of how good they can get.”
Hampton’s positivity and dedication to the team shines through in both his actions and his words. There is a focus on positivity in his cheering as well, to not bring the other team down but to uplift the Hurricanes and inspire other fans to do the same. “There’s lots of kids at the games, we want to be good sportsmen, to be family friendly, to be good ambassadors.” Hampton says the Hurricanes players and staff reflect this attitude as well. “They’re not just players, they’re great people. The organization makes an effort to draft those kinds of players. Arntsen signs autographs for every kid. That exemplifies the attitude we want in our players, making a memory for them and making them love the game even more.”
“Everybody wants to be seen, to be heard. We need to build an environment where everyone feels important and involved. Even as super-fans, when there’s a kid who wants a photo or high five, it’s so important to do that. In 15 years we hope that they’re all we are and more. Our main message is get out there and support our team. The boys are at their best when the fans are at their best too. Going to the games is just as much for them as it is for us. I can’t imagine spending my time anywhere else. ”
