During the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs, the Carolina Hurricanes used Jim Valvano’s words to tell a different kind of athlete story. “A Message From Jimmy V” paired his ESPY speech and Reynolds Coliseum farewell with candid team footage, family videos and personal moments showing Hurricanes players not simply as competitors, but as husbands, fathers, sons, teammates and friends. Created with the V Foundation and permissions from ESPN and NC State, the film connected two championship generations from Raleigh. Released across four platforms with no paid media, it earned 2M+ views, 39.8K+ engagements and placement in ESPN and ABC’s Stanley Cup coverage.