Hockeyville Hub: Day 4

Kraft Hockeyville, now in its 14th year, awards winning communities in Canada a once-in-a-lifetime experience for hockey fans. This year, two different communities, Twillingate, Newfoundland, and Elsipogtog First Nation, New Brunswick, each hosted a preseason game between the Montreal Canadiens and Ottawa Senators. The Twillingate game was actually played in Gander on Thursday, and the Elsipogtog First Nation game was played Saturday. In each community, the local rink received $250,000 in arena upgrades, and there will be festivities and player appearances prior to the games. NHL.com senior director of editorial Shawn P. Roarke is in Gander and NHL.com staff writer Jon Lane is in Elsipogtog First Nation to provide all the sights, sounds, highlights and news leading up to the game.

Only at Hockeyville
Storytelling and childlike wonder assembled for the red-carpet ceremony welcoming the Montreal Canadiens and Ottawa Senators to J.K. Irving Centre in Bouctouche for their preseason game Saturday.
A gathering lined outside the building for the final day of Kraft Hockeyville 2021 celebrating Elsipogtog First Nation. P.J. Sock, 8, caught my attention when he asked if I was famous.
P.J. won an autographed Senators Hockeyville jersey through a community raffle outside Chief Young Eagle Recreation Center, where he also met Canadiens goalie and Fredericton native Jake Allen.
The week was unforgettable for P.J., his friends and mother Martha. The Socks sometimes travel to Bell Centre for regular-season games, but Martha Sock said that could not compare to the Hockeyville experience.
"It's just unbelievable, just once in a lifetime," she said. "Every day was P.J.'s best day and it got better every day. It seems like they're a part of us."
At the request of P.J. and his friends, Senators mascot Sparty agreed to do 10 pushups -- if I joined him. We did all 10 and then Sparty sat on top of me. I did another five halfway down. Only for the kids.
P.J.'s day brightened from there, a needed glow on an overcast and chilly morning. The Senators arrived at 9:10 a.m. AT to the delight of the Therrien family visiting from St. Antonine. Ken Therrien is a father of five. His daughter Orelie made a sign with cards of her four favorite players: Josh Norris, Brady Tkachuk, Thomas Chabot and Tim Stutzle.
Tkachuk signed his card and posed for pictures with the whole family.
"We don't get the chance to do this when we see games in Ottawa," Ken said.
The Canadiens bus pulled in at 9:56 a.m. AT. One of the first to greet them was Damien Duplessis from Bouctouche, in a wheelchair because of a work accident. "Tiba," recognized as the biggest Canadiens fan in town, goes as far back as Guy Lafleur and met "The Flower" during a local event in 2017. It's where Tiba received his VIP badge.
Lafleur, a revered Montreal icon, died of cancer April 22 at the age of 70. Duplessis attended the public viewing and brought his father's No. 10 Lafleur jersey.
"I felt like a million bucks," Duplessis said. "I was glad he was my idol."
Fans later greeted Canadiens forward Cole Caufield with chants of " Caufield! Caufield!" He one of the last to enter the building, but not before he signed an autograph for P.J. and gave him a hug.
P.J. Sock's smile grew wider than New Brunswick. He eyes glistened with wonder. Only at Hockeyville. -- Lane
Allen back in New Brunswick
The day of the preseason game Jake Allen insisted starting for the Canadiens has arrived.
The 32-year-old goalie was born in Fredericton and his roots have remained strong through charitable work with his PROGRAM34 organization. His family and friends will be here, a few who've yet to see him play in person.
"I never thought I'd play an NHL game in New Brunswick, to be honest," Allen said. "Very fortunate but it's not about me today. It's about the community here and what Kraft is doing for them, but special for me as well to be able to play in New Brunswick. There's not too many of us in the League and it's a cool moment. It's important because it means a lot to this community."
Allen will try to help Montreal (0-6-1) end the preseason with a victory four days before the regular-season opener against the Toronto Maple Leafs at Bell Centre on Wednesday with a group of players on the sidelines. Forwards Mike Hoffman and Christian Dvorak each is day to day with an upper-body injury. Forwards Nick Suzuki (upper body), Joel Armia (upper body) and Emil Heineman (upper body) each did not make the trip.
Forwards Brady Tkachuk, Tim Stutzle, Josh Norris, Claude Giroux, Tyler Motte and Alex DeBrincat and defenseman Thomas Chabot each will not play for Ottawa (4-3-0). Coach D.J. Smith said he's seen enough from them in the preseason with the Senators opening at the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday.
Derick Brassard will play after missing the game Thursday in Gander, New Brunswick, with an illness. The 35-year-old center is with Ottawa on a professional tryout contract. He played two seasons for them after he was acquired in a trade with the New York Rangers for center Mika Zibanejad on July 18, 2016.
"With everything I went through the last 24 hours, I am going to try to keep it simple," Brassard said. "I'm going to try to keep it pretty short out there. But it's an important game for everyone. We've got to take this this thing seriously. We've got to execute and make sure that we're ready to go for that for the first game of the season.
"It's fun to be here. I think it's a great thing the League does every year and we're pretty happy to be here tonight."
Mathieu Joseph, Shane Pinto and Drake Batherson were Ottawa's top line during the morning skate. Batherson was born in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and raised in the Maritimes (New Minas, Nova Scotia).
Goalie Magnus Hellberg will start and play the entire game for the Senators, the 31-year-old's first since he was claimed off waivers from the Seattle Kraken on Oct. 3 with Cam Talbot out 5-7 weeks because of an upper-body injury. Anton Forsberg made 26 saves Thursday. -- Lane
Officials have local ties, too
Bouctouche natives Jean Hebert and Jesse Marquis will officiate in their home rink, J.K. Irving Centre. Marquis worked numerous minor hockey games here, the Allan Cup awarded to the national senior amateur men's hockey champions in Canada and his final game in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. He returns to New Brunswick every offseason. Hebert played minor hockey here and became connected to Elsipogtog First Nation by teammates and coaches. He has helped raise more than $100,000 for local minor hockey and non-contact ringette associations through his golf tournament that has provided equipment and subsidized player costs.
Before the game, Hebert told me he stopped at a coffee shop en route to the arena. The vibe of his home community reminded him of a Stanley Cup Playoff game at Bell Centre or Madison Square Garden.
"It's fun to see and I'm happy everybody's having a great time," Hebert said. A lot of people here, it's their only chance they'll have to watch the NHL caliber player play hockey. To see all that live, for those kids that have a chance to see that really is a chance of a lifetime."
Prior to the game, representatives from 2020 Hockeyville winner Twillingate, Newfoundland will pass a ceremonial jersey to Ruth Levi and Kurt Joseph of the Elsipogtog First Nation local organizing committee. Four Indigenous members from Elsipogtog First Nation serving in the North Shore infantry will make up the honor guard. Tyrone and Tessa Sock, children of late band councillor Craig "Jumbo" Sock, will drop the ceremonial first puck. Chief Arren Sock will be recognized during the first television timeout. -- Lane
Video: Referee Hebert talks hometown hosting Hockeyville
Cup ambassador Colton Benard
Colton Benard is an autistic 24-year-old resident of Elsipogtog First Nation deemed Stanley Cup ambassador for the day by Band Councillor Ruth Levi.
Colton is beloved by the community, a walking encyclopedia of hockey history and fan of Brad Marchand and the Boston Bruins, so Levi chose him to lead the parade that escorted the Stanley Cup for a picnic to celebrate Hockeyville Canada 2021.
"I decided that we could honor Colton because of being a true-blue fan," Levi said. "I told the mom there's something we really, really want to do. I told her and she started crying. She said, 'You know, I don't know how long I'm going to have my son.' That's all she said to me. She said you just made his day. You're going to make his day."
Tweet from @JonLaneNHL: Colton Benard, the Stanley Cup ambassador to Elsipogtog First Nation, escorts the silver chalice into town to celebrate #Hockeyville pic.twitter.com/uJivRQIWtB
Colton spent much of his life at Chief Young Eagle Recreation Centre watching games while sitting behind players and rooting against his father's favorite teams. Then the building was damaged by a fire in September 2020. Some teams had to play at Kent-North Imperial Centre in Richibucto. Others were unable to play at all.
The arena was renovated with the Hockeyville Canada prize of $250,000. There's a fresh coat of paint, new boards, glass, windows, Kraft Hockeyville signage and a Zamboni. All that's missing is new ice, the final step on hold for at least 3-4 months because of a pipe leak.
When finished, Colton and competitive hockey will return. While Hockeyville remains in town, he'll travel to Bouctouche with parents Wally and Angie for morning skates and the preseason game between the Montreal Canadiens and Ottawa Senators at J.K. Irving Centre on Saturday (6:30 p.m. ET; TVAS).
"Today's a happy day," Angie said.
Happy because it was one to look forward to and enjoy after Elsipogtog First Nation mourned the loss of their community gathering place, retired chief and Ruth's father, Albert Levi, and popular Band Councillor/youth hockey coach Craig "Jumbo" Sock's disappearance trying to rescue crew members of his capsized fishing boat.
Hours before the people reveled under the sun, the Cup visited the Rexton Lions Nursing Home. During the days leading up to it, the mood changed a bit for the better. The glow will continue for a long time.
"Some of them grew up watching Gordie Howe and Bobby Hull, and to be able to see those names on the Cup, that must be awesome for them," nursing home administrator Evan Scully said. "It's a huge morale boost. It's a sense of anticipation, a sense of excitement, something that I'm sure a lot of the residents here would have never thought would have happened, ever. It's just one of those once-in-a-lifetime things that thanks to the hard work of everybody involved they get to experience." -- Lane
"In awe" of the Cup
The Stanley Cup made the first stop of its tour of Elsipogtog First Nation at Rexall Elementary School. Kids in grades K-5 lined up for photos followed by alumni who moved on to middle school and high school.
Principal Charlene Robinson summarized the emotions of the group in two words: In awe.
Hockey is life in this section of Canada like the rest of the country, the sport playing an important role in a young person's development.
"It plays in a number of different ways, of course like your typical physical education," Robinson said. "It also brings them to work as a team. We're building that commitment and seeing that they're not the only one, that they have to work together. For them to come back and see something as fabulous as this, because things like that don't happen here that often. So to come here and see a piece of history, because that's what it is, it's history. They are really just in awe."
When Robinson informed students about the day with the Cup, she said they wanted to meet the Keeper of the Cup as much as seeing the trophy.
"They think he's pretty cool," Robinson said.
Phil Pritchard has looked after the Stanley Cup since December 1988 and has been with the Hockey Hall of Fame for 34 years. He arrived at Elsipogtog First Nation after Twillingate, Newfoundland, this week was celebrated for winning Hockeyville 2020. When told he's held in high regard, he stayed grounded, thankful he's along for the ride.
"It's a great ride," Pritchard said. "As we know, the hockey community is pretty passionate about the history of the game, the aura of the game. I guess being part of it, I'm honored." -- Lane
Party time, Elsipogtog First Nation style
Hockey Hall of Famer Bryan Trottier will join three-time Olympic medalist Jocelyne Larocque and retired Ottawa Senators forward Chris Neil today for the Kraft Hockeyville 2021 Community Picnic Celebration at Chief Young Eagle Recreation Centre, a family friendly event open to the public that will follow the Stanley Cup being escorted into town on a float. The Cup will be on display for photo opportunities with Trottier, Larocque and Neil each signing autographs.
Some will get their first look at the arena, which was renovated with the $250,000 grand prize. A fire in September 2020 had shut down a gathering place that was so vital to the community.
"I just want to see everybody's face when they walk through this place," rink manager Barry Augustine said. "Holy smokes."
Food, fun and games, including a lobster-eating contest, will entertain Elsipogtog First Nation and visitors. Montreal Canadiens goalie Jake Allen will be at Chief Young Eagle Recreation Centre, one day after a 4-3 loss to the Senators at Steele Community Centre in Gander, Newfoundland, to conclude Hockeyville 2020 celebrating Twillingate.
Allen will likely start for the Canadiens against the Senators at J.K. Irving Centre in Bouctouche on Saturday (6:30 p.m. ET; TVAS). His roots -- Allen was born in Fredericton, New Brunswick -- remain strong. He played peewee and midget hockey at Tom Donovan Arena in Renous, winner of Hockeyville 2019, and returned there with the Stanley Cup two months after winning it with the St. Louis Blues in 2019. His nonprofit PROGRAM34 organization in August raised $75,000 for seven charities in the Fredericton region and has brought in $490,000 for 22 charities during six events throughout New Brunswick.
"I've actually been looking forward to Hockeyville 2021] all summer because it's a big deal for the province and for me too," Allen said. *-- Lane*
**Redesign, rebuild, reclaim**
Chief Young Eagle Recreation Centre has new roofing, siding, windows, bathrooms, hockey boards, glass and an ice resurfacing machine.
All it needs is ice. A pipe leak has delayed the opening for at least 3-4 months, forcing an alumni game Thursday to be relocated about 15 minutes northeast to Imperial Kent North Centre in Richibucto.
When the ice can be put down, the rink will again be home to skating clinics, games and Friday night community gatherings for recreation and wellness thanks to the Hockeyville 2021 prize of $250,000.
"If we didn't win, I don't know where it would be," said rink manager and former Elsipogtog First Nation band councillor chief Barry Augustine. "That $250,000 came in handy. It's just, everything."
Augustine wears a beaded blue, white and gold medallion given to him by the community when he returned to Elsipogtog First Nation in 2012 after eight years in the Canadian Navy. He also served on the community's band council, a form of town government, for 10 years covering three terms.
Another council member was Craig "Jumbo" Sock, a major player behind the winning bid. Eight days before Elsipogtog First Nation won Hockeyville in April 2021, Sock was lost at sea when his fishing boat capsized off the Nova Scotia coast.
Sock saved three crew members. One was Augustine's son, Justus.
The current band councillor, or chief, is Arren Sock, Craig Sock's cousin. He's served for 10 years.
"After losing 'Jumbo,' and all that ... it was kind of hard on me," Augustine said. "I was away from the community for at least eight years. 'Jumbo' took me under his wing, showed me the ropes and how to help out the community in the right way. Everyone loved him here because he would always, if someone didn't have a shirt, he would take it right off and give you that shirt. So when we lost 'Jumbo' it was hard for our community, but by winning Kraft Hockeyville, it healed us. It really helped us." *-- Lane*
*[Video: History of Chief Young Eagle Rec Center in Elsipogtog
Head games
Creativity was required to get noticed by the players from the Montreal Canadiens and the Ottawa Senators as they arrived at Steele Community Center on Thursday to begin preparations for their preseason game later Thursday.
Fortunately, Reed Goodyear and Benjamin Tuff, two 11-year-olds from Gander, had a plan.
Goodyear, wearing a Nick Suzuki jersey, had a sIgn saying that he would trade Fudgee-O's, a famous Canadian cookie brand, for a puck. He even had the pack of cookies to deliver.
"I was just trying to figure out something to get Cole Caufield's attention," Goodyear said of the Canadiens forward. "Hopefully he will give me a puck because I don't have tickets to the game, only the practice."
Eventually, the plan worked.
Goodyear didn't get the puck, but he did get the player's autograph on his sign. Then Tuff one-upped him, pleading with Caufield to sign his forehead.
After hesitating, Caufield complied, warning Tuff it was a permanent marker.
"Thats a first for me," Caufield said.<br>Tuff took the threat of permanence in stride and suggested his parents would find his decision funny, not upsetting.<br>"I know it won't come off, that's the point," Tuff said later. "I will take a bath, but I won't wash my forehead."<br>Tuff's forehead was one of several unusual destinations for autographs Thursday. One student from Twillingate had a stuffed puffin she asked Canadiens forward Brendan Gallagher sign, and another had Senators forward Brady Tkachuk put Sharpie to his sneaker.<br>Mitchell Watkins, a teacher from Twillingate, found a different way to get noticed. Among the 200-plus fans along the red carpet, Watkins was one of the few wearing Senators gear.<br>"I definitely stand out," said Watkins, a fan of the Senators since 2005. "Buts that OK, I came to see the boys. I am surrounded by Toronto Maple Leafs fans and Habs fans, but I root for the Senators."
His distinctiveness worked. Several of the highest-profile Senators, including Tkachuk and defenseman Thomas Chabot, diverted to deliver a signature to his hoodie. -- Roarke
Video: Sens, Habs experience Hockeyville in Twillingate
Lineup news
The Canadiens and Senators each will dress a lineup close to what their regular-season deployment could Look like for the preseason game here Thursday.
But each team will juggle its top two lines.
Ottawa will switch Tim Stutzle and Josh Norris as its top two centers; Stutzle will play with Tkachuk and Drake Batherson and Norris will play with Alex DeBrincat and Claude Giroux.
"It's an opportunity to see something without the expense of a NHL game," Senators coach D.J. Smith said. "We will see how this goes. I am not saying we need to stick with it, but we certainly want to have a look at it."
For Montreal, Sean Monahan will center Caufield and Rem Pitlick, and Kirby Dach will have Gallagher and Mike Hoffman on his wings.
"They are both great players, a lot of skill," said Monahan, who made his debut for the Canadiens in a 5-4 preseason loss to the Senators on Tuesday. "I am looking forward to playing with them.
Monahan is recovering from season-ending hip surgery with the Calgary Flames last season. He was traded to the Canadiens on Aug. 18.
"I want to be at my best opening night," he said. "It's just been a long road for me. I think the biggest thing is feeling good physically. This is an important day for me."
Juraj Slafkovsky, the No. 1 pick in the 2022 NHL Draft, will play on the third line for Montreal and Cayden Primeau will start in goal.
For Ottawa, goalie Anton Forsberg is scheduled to play the whole game. He is the likely No. 1 with Cam Talbot out 5-7 weeks with an upper-body injury.
Smith said Magnus Hellberg will play Saturday when the two teams meet again for another Hockeyville game, this time in Moncton. Forward Derick Brassard (illness) will not play Thursday. -- Roarke
Introducing Elsipogtog First Nation
I'm settled in Moncton, New Brunswick, one hour ahead of Eastern Standard Time and 60 minutes from Chief Young Eagle Recreation Centre and Elsipogtog First Nation, a fishing community voted the winner of Kraft Hockeyville Canada 2021.
Elsipogtog means "river of fire," and as of 2021 was home to 3,509 registered members (2,703 living on the First Nation's reserve). Elsipogtog First Nation native Everett Sanipass played five NHL seasons for the Chicago Blackhawks and Quebec Nordiques. Philadelphia Flyers legend Reggie Leach is from Berens First Nation and won the Stanley Cup in 1975. At 72, "The Riverton Rifle" and "The Chief" is the oldest living First Nation person to play in the NHL.
"I think it's a great thing for what they have done, how far they come and got behind their community to push for [Hockeyville] and to rebuild their arena," Leach said from his cottage near Flin Flon, Manitoba. "Arenas in our First Nation communities are very important to us because it keeps our kids busy and keeps them occupied and it's a great building tool for them. They didn't have it for a while and now they have to start all over again and get the hockey program back together."
A First Nation alumni game is set for Thursday at Imperial Kent North Centre in Richibucto, moved from Chief Young Eagle Arena because of a pipe leak that will delay ice installation for at least 3-4 months. Friday is an all-day celebration at Elsipogtog First Nation and the Stanley Cup will be shown around town. The Canadiens and Senators arrive in Moncton after the game Thursday and will walk the red carpet into J.K. Irving Centre on Saturday.
After Montreal and Ottawa leave town and Hockeyville Canada 2021 is in the history books, the rebuilt rink will honor Elsipogtog First Nation tradition, people and the memory of Chief Albert Levi and band councilor Craig "Jumbo" Sock. There's a logo on shirts given to youth players at a development camp coached by Craig's son, Tyrone. "Work Hard, Have Fun" is simple, its message the power behind the winning bid and conviction for a people strong and resilient.
Any questions, ask Jaime Carpenter, one of the organizers who learned to skate at Chief Young Eagle Arena and played at Plymouth State University in New Hampshire on a hockey scholarship.
"I hope that it not only shows Elsipogtog that we're amazing, but it also shows all of Canada, 'Don't doubt us,' " she said. "We're still here. We are not going anywhere. We're ready and we're excited to play hockey and fall in love with the sport again." -- Lane
Time to party
After waiting two years because of concerns surrounding the coronavirus pandemic, Twillingate finally got to celebrate its Kraft Hockeyville win.
And what a party it was.
It seemed like the whole town showed up, as well as people from outlying towns to hang with the Stanley Cup and commemorate a pivotal moment in Twillingate's history.
Justin Blackler, mayor of the town, stood on the floor of the bustling arena and marveled at the scene unfolding before him.
At one end, fans waited in a long line to see the Stanley Cup. At the other end, two local musicians entertained the crowd. People flocked to the merchandise stand and the free food. Kids shot pucks at the accuracy shooting station or mugged with Youppi and SpartaCat, the mascots for the Montreal Canadiens and Ottawa Senators, respectively, the teams that will play in the exhibition game in Gander on Thursday.
"This is awesome," Blackler said. "We have a committee that has been running the show, people that have given up hours, days, weeks of their time to make this a possibility. People like me, the mayor, and the town council reap the benefits from their hard work. They need a thousand thank yous.
"This place is going to be [full] for the next two or three hours. Tomorrow, we have all the kids in this community and the next community going into Gander for the practices for the two teams. That's awesome, and the game tomorrow is just icing on the cake."
Retired NHL forward Stephane Richer was on hand, representing the Canadiens, for whom he played on two different occasions during an NHL career from 1984-2002. He signed autographs non-stop for more than 90 minutes.
Richer, who was born in Ripon, Quebec, was blown away by the passion for hockey he witnessed here.
"For me, it was special because I am from a small town," Richer said. "To go back 35 years ago, it would be nice to have a hockey rink like this, at least have a chance to build something. It took 35 years to have a rink back home and the first one was the Guy Lafleur hockey rink.
"When they called me to do this, I said I'm in. It is nice to see all the kids with a smile, all the people, a lot of Montreal Canadiens fans here. It is great!" -- Roarke
A ride fit for a champion
The Stanley Cup got an unexpected escort to the community celebration at George Hawkins Memorial Arena, riding through town atop a Twillingate fire truck with full sirens blaring.
It's a treatment that was once the province of championship hockey teams from the town, but the Stanley Cup also rated.
Before going on its joy ride, the Cup spent some time at the firehouse with many of the 30 volunteer firefighters who make up the department.
"It is quite an honor, I would say," said Craig Clarke, the chief of the town's volunteer fire department. "There is a big game tomorrow in Gander. Everybody is really riled up. There are a lot of true hockey fans here in Twillingate. It is a really great thing."
The Cup was met by a standing ovation when it arrived at the arena, bringing a smile to the firemen who transported it.
"All the work you put in, you get your reward back now," Clarke said. "The Cup came here and there is a big game tomorrow. The kids are happy, and a lot of older people are happy too. They've never seen an NHL game before. There are a lot of happy people in the area." -- Roarke
Stanley goes to school
Youpi and SpartaCat, the mascots for the Montreal Canadiens and Ottawa Senators, respectively, were nearly as big a draw as the Stanley Cup when the trophy found its way into the gymnasium at J.M. Olds Collegiate, the high school in town, for a surprise visit.
The gymnasium was packed with children from Olds, which has a little more than 100 students, and the neighboring elementary school. They were expecting a presentation on Hockeyville.
But when the makeshift hockey game between two teams of high school seniors ended -- first team to score wins -- the victorious team was told it would get a surprise treat.
That treat was the Stanley Cup. The kids went crazy when Phil Pritchard, the Keeper of the Cup, marched into the gym with the trophy in his arms.
Each class took a group picture with the Cup, the mascots joining in the photo shoots.
The kids looked at the Cup as they got their pictures taken. The older kids searched for the names of their favorite players, including Alex Newhook, a Newfoundlander who won the Cup with the Colorado Avalanche in June, Michael Ryder (Boston Bruins, 2011) and Danny Cleary (Detroit Red Wings, 2008), the other Newfoundlanders to win the trophy.
But it was the mascots who stole the show, doing the Electric Slide dance and mugging for the cameras. Kids raced to hug the mascots or take selfies with the furry characters. High fives were in abundance.
When the hour-long assembly ended, the teachers even managed to slip in some candid photos with the Stanley Cup, closing out an assembly that won't soon be forgotten in this town. -- Roarke
Boat ride on the bay
The Stanley Cup started its day here in Twillingate the same way most tourists do, taking a boat ride on the "Twillingate Spirit" on Notre Dame Bay on a picturesque fall day.
The excursion delighted the townspeople who stopped their walks, their jobs or drives to take pictures of the trophy in the boat.
The Cup even surprised a Canadian Coast Guard boat on its way out of the cove, the sailors clamoring up on its decks to find the best vantage point for the surprise.
Gordon Jones wasn't surprised by the Cup visit.
He saw the boat from his house on the hill overlooking the bay and scurried down to the dock to meet the return of the trophy.
His industriousness paid off; the 72-year-old got a private audience with the trophy, getting his picture taken and touching the Stanley Cup, items that were on the hockey bucket list for the lifelong fan of the Montreal Canadiens.
The Canadiens will play the Ottawa Senators in a preseason game at Steele Community Centre in Gander on Thursday.
"It was so exciting," Jones said. "I have been wanting to see it for years, wanting to touch it, wanting to hold it, but I got my opportunity today."
Did he ever imagine the dream would come true in this tiny fishing outport 90 minutes north of Gander?
"I knew I would never win it as a player, so yeah, I guess my only way would be Twillingate," he said, shaking his head in amazement. "The Stanley Cup is heavier than I anticipated, a lot heavier." -- Roarke
A grand day out
Twillingate and Gander are ready for Kraft Hockeyville 2020, beginning with a community celebration in Twillingate, the winner of the online voting contest two years ago.
Twillingate, a small fishing village 90 minutes north of Gander, will host the Stanley Cup and throw a community event to mark the victory and the renovations that are happening at their local rink because of the program.
Wednesday is a busy day for the Twillingate outport famous for its lighthouse, its position on Iceberg Alley and its whale-watching fleet.
It started bright and early with the arrival of the Stanley Cup by boat before embarking on a daylong tour throughout the town.
Later in the afternoon, the Cup will be on display at Hawkins Arena for three hours for pictures with the locals. At the same time, there will be a celebration on the grounds of the arena that will feature food and games, as well as alumni appearances by Stephane Richer of the Canadiens and Chris Neil of the Senators.
Thursday, the teams will arrive in Gander and walk the red carpet before morning skates. A player from each team will conduct a Q&A session with fans at the arena after morning practices and the two-day celebration will end with a sold-out game at Steele. -- Roarke*