Adam Lee Decker Readies for Game 1 at Lenovo Center

adam lee decker is preparing to sing the national anthem before Thursday night's Eastern Conference Finals opener at Lenovo Center, stepping into Game 1 with a sold-out crowd and a nationally televised audience waiting. He said he is already feeling the energy brewing inside the building.

Lenovo Center builds the pressure

Decker said, "You walk into this building, and it's a funnel. You're going to fall into it" during a Tuesday walkthrough inside Lenovo Center. The setup gives the pregame moment a bigger stage than a normal anthem performance, with the Carolina Hurricanes opening the Eastern Conference Finals at home.

He has become a familiar face to fans and to the team itself, and his performances are continuing to gain national attention. Decker said, "It's one of those things that are just it's so raw. It's so fresh. It's alive, and I love it," as he looked ahead to the spotlight.

Decker and Svechnikov

The singer also said, "Apparently, allegedly Svechnikov knows who's going to be singing the anthem every time. So I love that," a nod to how closely his routine has become tied to the team. Decker walked through that routine on Tuesday, two days before he is set to lead the crowd into Game 1.

He said he wants to show that he is "just kind of a normal dude who appreciates hockey," even as the attention around him grows. Decker joked that he sometimes has to think about what he wears outside the house for errands and other activities.

From weddings to Game 1

Decker is a musician who also performs at weddings, and he was once a contestant on "America's Got Talent." He said, "I'm just glad to lead the charge," a line that fits the role waiting for him at Lenovo Center on Thursday night.

For the Hurricanes, the anthem performance becomes part of the opening moment of the Eastern Conference Finals opener. For Decker, it is another chance to stand in front of the fan base that already knows his face and name.