Tyler Bozak (left) and Jaden Schwartz (right) lift the Stanley Cup in front of the Legislative Building in Regina on Saturday afternoon. (Photo: Moises Canales/620 CKRM)
It’s a busy summer for the Stanley Cup as it makes its journey around the globe with players from the 2019 National Hockey League champions – the St. Louis Blues.
Three players from the Blues call Saskatchewan their home, which means the trophy gets to spend a couple days in the Land of Living Skies this summer.
On Friday, the NHL’s prized trophy was in Saskatoon with Brayden Schenn. Saturday saw the Cup tour the Queen City with Jaden Schwartz and Tyler Bozak.
Hundreds of people from Regina and other communities travelled to the Legislative Building late Saturday morning to see the two NHLers with the Cup. A giant line formed with hopeful hockey fans wanting to snag an autograph and picture with the two Sask. players.
The event kicked off with Premier Scott Moe congratulating the players and the team from a balcony accompanied by Schwartz and Bozak. The two players also had a chance to answer a few questions while the crowd listened and cheered from below.
Winning the Stanley Cup meant a lot for Jaden and the Schwartz family after his sister Mandi passed away in December 2008. He had the opportunity to share his thoughts on winning the Cup for his older sister.
“It’s very special for me and my family,” he said. “She means a lot to us. I wanted to do it for my family and Saskatchewan, and this was all for her.”
Lifetime fan sees dream become reality
A lot of young fans were able to meet Jaden and Tyler in person while standing next to them getting their picture taken with the Cup. But some fans have waited decades for this moment to arrive.
Angus Blelloch from Esterhazy, Sask. made the trip to Regina to be a part of the event. He was one of the fans that seemed to stand out among a crowd of several hundred people.
Blelloch was wearing a dark blue St. Louis Blues alternate jersey with Brian Sutter’s no. 11 on the back. Of course Sutter never wore that jersey since he played for the Blues from 1976 to 1988, but it gives us a glimpse into how long he’s been supporting the NHL club.
Angus has been a fan of the Blues since they joined the league in 1967 when the expansion era began for the NHL.
There are a couple reasons why he became a fan of the team. He remembers the team’s ‘music note’ logo catching his eye when he was a kid. Later on he decided to write a letter to Regina native Red Berenson who was playing on the team at the time; Berenson sent a postcard back to him soon after.
Young Angus ended up following other Blues greats from Saskatchewan like Glenn Hall, Brian Sutter, Bernie Federko and Kelly Chase, and he has been a supporter ever since.
Top: Angus Blelloch (middle) and his family wait in line to meet the Stanley Cup decked out in their St. Louis Blues gear. Bottom: Angus shared a photograph of his brick outside of Enterprise Center in St. Louis, the home of the Blues. (Photos: Moises Canales/620 CKRM)
He even has a brick next to the Al MacInnis statue outside of Enterprise Center in St. Louis, Missouri which he purchased a few years ago from the franchise. It says “BLUES #1 CANADIAN FAN ANGUS BLELLOCH”.
After years of coming up short in the Stanley Cup playoffs, Canada’s number one Blues fan explained how important it is to be a part of this moment.
“It’s amazing. It feels really good to see so many Blues jerseys,” said Blelloch. “You didn’t see too many until lately, but it’s perfect. Hopefully they keep going.”
Some fans have yet to watch their favourite hockey teams hoist the Cup as champions, and some unfortunately may never have the chance to live that experience.
But for Blelloch who has been waiting 52 years for this day to arrive, he said it’s something you’ll never forget.
“It was great and I’m so glad it happened while I’m still working because there are so many at work who have listened to me for so many years,” he said with a laugh. “Hopefully it’s the start of great things.”
This is the first Stanley Cup championship for the St. Louis Blues franchise, ending the third longest drought in the history of the league. They defeated the Eastern Conference’s Boston Bruins 4-3 in the Stanley Cup Final back in June.
