Woman inspired by NHL's efforts to include deaf Canes' fans at Stanley Cup Final games

As thousands of fans stood for the national anthem before each Carolina Hurricanes home game in the Stanley Cup Final, most listened.

For Karin Desalu, it was a moment she saw.

The Raleigh resident, who lost her hearing at age 10, was selected by the NHL to perform the national anthem in American Sign Language during the Hurricanes’ Stanley Cup Final home games.

“I felt emotional for sure,” Desalu said. “It was an opportunity that I was blessed to have.”

Desalu says performing the anthem is about much more than translating words.

“American Sign Language is a 3D language,” she explained. “You incorporate body language and facial expressions.”

She spent weeks preparing, practicing constantly-even in the grocery store-to make sure she captured both the meaning and emotion of the anthem.

The experience also gave her a deeper appreciation for the NHL’s efforts to make the sport more accessible for deaf fans.

“The National Hockey League is accessible for the deaf and hard of hearing,” Desalu said. “It really inspired me.”

She received an outpouring of support from the deaf community, with many calling her performance empowering and inspiring.

But the moment she’ll remember most happened after the anthem ended.

As the crowd applauded, one security guard, who does hear, congratulated her using deaf applause — raising his hands in the air and waving them.

“That hit me hard,” Desalu said. “That was a big impact for me.”

For Desalu, the Hurricanes’ Stanley Cup run was about more than hockey. It was about inclusion, representation, and making sure every fan could be part of the moment.

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