I always feel like I should write something meaningful for days like Memorial Day and then go through step-wise process of trying, feeling incapable of writing anything good enough and then just stopping to at least say ‘thank you.’ But this year by virtue of our family visit to Washington, D.C. and the Arlington National Cemetery during my kids’ spring break, I actually have something and will put it up a day early since Monday could an especially light day for hockey reading.

Upon coming out of the back door of the visitors’ center at Arlington National Cemetery, one of my sons looked out at the rows of white grave markers in all directions and simply said, “It’s a lot. We should do better to remember this every day.” As simple as it was, I think that captures it pretty well.

By no means is the United States of America perfect, but it is our country, and the ideals of our country are still incredibly good. There are thousands of people who have died fighting to protect those ideals. The least the rest of us can do is remember that every day, respect the sacrifices of those who died fighting for those ideals, and fight for those ideals ourselves in whatever small way we can each and every day.

Thank you to all who have made the ultimate sacrifice protecting our country and freedom across the world. Thank you also to the many families who have felt the hardship of losing a loved one to this cause. And finally, thank you to all of the great men and women who have served in our armed forces past and present.

As is often the case in May, today’s collection of reading from around the internet is a mixed bunch covering a few different topics after scanning the sparseness of Hurricanes hockey news during the slow time of the year.

Checking in with the Charlotte Checkers

Nicholas Niedzielski from the Charlotte Checkers website chronicled the progress of Haydn Fleury in his first season at the professional level in 2016-17.

Nicholas also wrote a great article on unsung hero and team leader Kyle Hagel who maybe does not grab “next NHL star” type headlines but plays a significant role in creating a positive and safe environment for Canes prospects in Charlotte.

After a break to finish out the school year, Jordan Futrell penned part 1 of his Charlotte Checkers season recap here at Canes and Coffee.

The 2017-18 Carolina Hurricanes

Cory Lavalette from the North State Journal combined yesterday and today in an article that interviewed former Canes goalie Kevin Weekes about the current Hurricanes’ goalie situation and fitting in as a backup at the NHL level.

Scott Cullen at TSN.ca offered his “Off-season game plan” for the Carolina Hurricanes. The fact that he has a couple players on the wrong sides highlights the fact that oftentimes the broader media is only waist deep in Hurricanes’ hockey, but he does offer some good insight and a few interesting trade predictions/possibilities.

Hurricanes players still active in the post-season

In case you missed it last week (just after last week’s Sunday Canes Chronicle) the Swedish team that included four Carolina Hurricanes players won the IIHF tourney. Brett Finger from Canes Country recapped the end of the IIHF tourney from a Hurricanes perspective.

A total of four Hurricanes’ prospects battled it out for the right to play in Sunday’s Memorial Cup Final. Only one (Warren Foegele) advanced as his Erie Otters team defeated a trio of Hurricanes’ prospects (Julien Gauthier, Callum Booth, Spencer Smallman). The Toronto Star has a recap of that game that featured a heavy helping of the three Canes’ forward prospects on the score sheet.

Go Canes!