Burakovsky brings Cup to hockey roots

LIMHAMN, Sweden --Andre Burakovsky went back to his hockey roots Thursday and brought the Stanley Cup with him.

The Washington Capitals forward spent his day with the Cup in city where his hockey career really began.
Burakovsky began playing hockey in Limhahn's minor hockey program. He and his family moved to the city when Burakovsky was 12 months old.
"It's been awesome," Burakovsky, 23, said after three hours of posing for photos with hundreds of fans. "It was a lot of fun seeing so many people here. It's been a really warm day but fun. It's not something you do every day."

His father,
Robert Burakovsky
, played 23 games for the Ottawa Senators in 1993-94 before signing with a team in Austria in 1994-95, and Andre was born Feb. 9, 1995. The family moved back to Sweden when he was two months old, and Robert signed with Malmo in the Swedish Hockey League. Andre eventually played for Malmo as well.
After winning the Cup, Andre said having his day with it in Limhamn was an easy decision.
"It was pretty clear that he wanted to have it out here," Robert said. "It was here it all began."
His day started shortly after 10 a.m. local time, with Burakovsky and the Cup arriving in a convertible. Burakovsky took the stage outside Limhamn's ice rink and hoisted the Cup. After a short interview, he posed for photos and signed autographs.

"I was a bit nervous before I got it this morning, but once I finally did it's been great," said Burakovsky, who had six points (two goals, four assists) in 13 Stanley Cup Playoff games. "It's been a good day, but I was nervous before for sure."
Burakovsky played a big part in Washington clinching a spot in the Stanley Cup Final, scoring two goals in the series-clinching 4-0 win against the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Final.
Robert Burakovsky said he hopes his son's success in the NHL will inspire boys and girls in Malmo and Limhamn.
"It's huge that he gets to bring the Cup here, bring it home and show all the kids that dreams do come true," Robert said. "But there is a lot of practice and hard work behind this. I admire Andre for all the work he has put in to this."
Andre said he didn't plan on going far from the Cup during the rest of his day with it.
"I won't leave it,' he said. "I will hold it the whole time."