14°c Overcast
8°c Light rain
Winnipeg Free Press - ONLINE EDITION
Stanley Cup arrives in Winkler in style
L.A. Kings forward Dustin Penner, not pictured, brings the Stanley Cup to the Southland Mall in his hometown of Winkler Friday afternoon. Hundreds wait in mall for cup and Penner to arrive. (JOE BRYKSA / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS) Photo Store
Tyler Spencer, 15, of St. Claude, get his picture taken with the Stanley Cup. (JOE BRYKSA / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS) Photo Store
WINKLER — The Stanley Cup made its second trip to Winkler in six years on Friday, and the ol’ mug did it in style — again.
Hockey’s most-cherished trophy arrived here via a stretch limo Friday afternoon and was escorted in to The Southland Mall to a rousing cheer by hundreds of fans, some of which had gathered for three hours for an up-close visit with the giant silver piece of history.
One of those fans was Christine Giesbrecht of Steinbach, who rented a hotel room in Winkler Thursday night in order to be near the front of the line.
"I just wanted to see the Stanley Cup and this isn’t that far from my hometown," Giesbrecht said. "It’s like a piece of history and I’m a diehard hockey fan. To get the chance to see it in person and to see all the legends names on there is pretty important to me. I went to Winnipeg two years ago when Jonathan Toews (of the Chicago Blackhawks) brought it and I’m going to take every chance I can to see it whenever I can.
"It’s like I’m in shock and awe when I see it... it’s the greatest trophy in sports."
Penner, who first brought the Cup to Winkler in the summer of 2007 after winning it as a member of the Anaheim Ducks, was sporting his familiar No. 25 white Los Angeles Kings jersey. Having already had his high school jersey retired and been awarded the key to the city in 2007, Mayor Martin Harder this time declared Friday, August 17th, 2012 ‘Dustin Penner Day.’
"It’s great to be back in Winkler and see all these familiar faces," Penner said. "Last time I was here I went to the hospital and went to see both sides of my family. This time, I wanted to do something different and get a different experience and view of it."
The day started off with Penner and family friend Art Paetkau, a local pilot, flying from Winkler to Yorkton, Sask. to pick up the Cup from Kings’ teammate Jarret Stoll. Penner then visited his grandmother with the cup and played golf with 12 relatives friends — and Stanley — before arriving at the mall in the afternoon.
"This feels good," said Penner. "I didn’t get to see as many people last time because it was really hot inside the rink (the site of the Cup’s last visit) and I suffered from a bit of heat stroke. I actually had to get IV fluids... I’m a lot more together this time and it’s not so stressful and it’s a more relaxed atmosphere for me.
"I’m enjoying it more. Last time it was the first time I had won it and you wanted to do so many things and you had so many requests and you wanted to make everybody happy. I ran myself ragged trying to do that. I wanted to do a few key things, a couple key things on the Stanley-Cup diet, and then spend more personal time with him. I kind of neglected him last time."
After today the Cup travels to Kenora, home of Mike Richards — Penner’s teammate with the Kings. Richards has a private party planned with 120 people aboard the M.S. Kenora.
Twitter: @WFPEdTait
More Latest News
- Back to Top
- Return to Latest News
More Latest News
(1 of 24 articles for today)
Rainfall warning issued for southern Manitoba
12:03 PM 0
Poll
Most Popular Latest News
- Prominent Canadians back petition to rename Victoria Day to honour aboriginals
- Brady Bunch kids to mark 40th anniversary popular episode shot at Kings Island
- The end of the credit card?
- Fire damages St. Vital home
- Swarm of tornadoes slam central US; 2 dead in Oklahoma mobile home park ravaged by twister
- Country music goes to pot
- Head-on collision kills pickup driver
- Jason Bateman confident there's lots more 'Arrested Development' to come
- Small Florida city wonders who hit historic $590.5M Powerball lottery jackpot
- Take me off your guest list, Harper
- Seattle man dribbling soccer ball to Brazil killed by car on Oregon Coast
- Aboriginal leader Elijah Harper dies
- News of city's $17-million winner leaks out on FB
- Woman killed in head-on crash in southwestern Manitoba
- Horrific crash kills minivan driver near Brandon
- Charleswood deaths being investigated as domestic incident
- Crushing blow for amateur sport
- US woman credits 'mother's instincts' in chase of 4-year-old daughter's abductor
- Flood victim gets six years for shotgun threat, attack
- Province removing red tape in alcohol sales
- Seattle man dribbling soccer ball to Brazil killed by car on Oregon Coast
- Driver crashes into tree near golf course
- Arrests made after raids on local head shops
- Aboriginal leader Elijah Harper dies
- News of city's $17-million winner leaks out on FB
- Passengers from diverted flight to leave Winnipeg Thursday night
- No threat from bag found at Winnipeg Square
- Susan Griffiths dies in Switzerland
- Woman killed in head-on crash in southwestern Manitoba
- Horrific crash kills minivan driver near Brandon
- Prominent Canadians back petition to rename Victoria Day to honour aboriginals
- Media multi-taskers are 'deluded'
- Uganda: Blessed are the children
- Two charged in golf course burglary
- Take me off your guest list, Harper
- Phone cracked? Cool
- Twins drop fifth straight, fall 4 games under .500 with 5-1 loss to Red Sox
- Actavis buying Warner Chilcott in all-stock transaction valued at about $8.5 billion
- Rainy day ahead for holiday Monday
- Aboriginal leader Elijah Harper dies
- An uncommon phenomenon
- Marsh Madness: Photographers Fred Greenslade and Joe Bryksa capture spring migration's grandeur at Delta Marsh
- U.S. bill would give Canadian snowbirds more time to spend in the sun
- Prominent Canadians back petition to rename Victoria Day to honour aboriginals
- Microsoft update to address Windows 8 complaints, confusion will be free; to be called 8.1
- Horrific crash kills minivan driver near Brandon
- Uganda: Blessed are the children
- New website profiles neighbourhoods of Winnipeg
- Province removing red tape in alcohol sales
- Aboriginal leader Elijah Harper dies
- Dogs can experience separation anxiety and depression just like humans
- Paul McCartney to play Winnipeg Aug. 12
- Ontario steps in to help save ELA
- Saskatchewan professor wants to test the health benefits of nose-picking
- 'Revenge of the redheads': Ginger-haired Montrealers gather in celebration
- An uncommon phenomenon
- Passengers from diverted flight to leave Winnipeg Thursday night
- Hundreds pitch in to dig out houses damaged, destroyed by Ochre Beach ice floe
- Retail sales in province see 2 per cent increase in February
Ads by Google
You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is register and/or login and you can join the conversation and give your feedback.
Have Your Say
New to commenting? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.
The Winnipeg Free Press does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comment, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. These terms were revised effective April 16, 2010.