RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) – The Carolina Hurricanes honored a Greensboro police officer killed in the line of duty and his family at Saturday’s game against the New Jersey Devils. Officer Michael Horan was killed in a shooting on Monday.
“Yeah I mean it’s just tragic news,” said Hurricanes Holdings president Doug Warf.
The Canes honored Horan and his family with a moment of silence in Horan’s memory before the puck drop at Saturday night’s game. Honoring not just the police officer, but a longtime Canes fan.
“We reached out immediately before we even knew he was a Canes fan just to see if we could do anything to help the family. And then to find out, he’s a Canes fan? It hits even closer,” Warf said.
Horan worked for the Greensboro Police Department for seven years. On Monday morning, Horan was killed after shots were fired in a Greensboro Food Lion.
Warf called it a tragedy, even more so after finding out Horan had actually had tickets to Saturday’s game for him and his family.
“Talking with his family, he went to games in Greensboro back in ‘97. He’s been a longtime fan,” Warf said.
Warf said the Canes upgraded the family’s tickets to a suite and added a meet and greet with some of the players.
“We just wanted to kind of give them the full experience,” he said. “They just helped the team get on the ice for the second period, fist pumping the whole team.”
Warf said he wanted to give the family a space to remember Officer Horan and a good experience – a distraction – as they deal with his loss.
“I think what’s been fun for me is hearing their stories about their dad and what they experienced here with him. And I think sometimes that’s the beauty of our game is that legacy can live on as always remembering their dad when they’re here,” Warf said of his conversations with Horan’s children.
Another effort in Horan’s memory: the Greensboro Police Officers Association has also set up a Help a Hero fundraiser. The proceeds will all go to his family.