Stanley Cup comes to Nelson with Vegas Amateur Scout
By The Nelson Daily Staff
Golden Knights amateur Scout Bruno Campese knew he would have the opportunity to experience a day with the Stanley Cup after the Vegas won the NHL Finals back in June.
Sunday afternoon at the Nelson and District Community Complex Arena, the Nelson native returned to his hockey roots to celebrate the Stanley Cup with hockey fans in the Heritage City.
“It’s amazing to have the opportunity to be part of a Stanley Cup winning team, and then to have a chance to bring it to your hometown where you were born and raised . . . played your hockey, coached and all of that stuff and to see the turnout today is just amazing,” Campese said while watching a stream of hockey fans take turns having photos taken with the prized trophy.
It was back in June when Vegas took down the Florida Panthers in five games to capture the Stanley Cup.
Campese had a chance to hoist the trophy on home ice along with the rest of the team following the Game five win that clinched the seven-game series.
Tradition allows each member of the team to enjoy individual time with the trophy, that has criss-crossed across the North America for the past five months.
“It’s a great day for one of Nelson’s own to bring the Stanley Cup home,” Nelson Mayor Janice Morrison said prior to entering the NDCC Arena.
“Bruno grew up here, he played his minor hockey here and coached the Nelson Leafs . . . I mean it’s just fantastic that when he had the opportunity to bring the Cup anywhere, he wanted to, he first thought of Nelson.”
The Stanley Cup made a stop in Nelson at the NDCC Arena Sunday afternoon. — The Nelson Daily photo
Doors opened for the public around noon.
Before stream of fans began to funnel into the NDCC Arena, Campese took the time for a team picture with the Cup and players from Nelson Minor Hockey at centre ice prior to their game.
The Cup was then moved to the NDCC concourse where the lineup, that extended to the other side of the arena, started as fans watched patiently for picture time.
“I thought this would be a great opportunity for people to come out to see the Stanley Cup, but you don’t know if there will be 50 or 500 people will show up,” Campese explained.
“To see the joy of people coming in to take their picture with the Cup and kids, especially, it’s been amazing.”
After the final photo was snapped, the Cup was firmly placed back into its’ carrying case by the keepers of the Cup, members of the Hockey Hall of Fame, and transported to Trail where Golden Knights pro scout and Silver City native Craig Cunningham, gets to experience his time.
This is the second time hockey fans in Nelson have experienced the Stanley Cup.
In 2007, as part of Hockey Day in Canada, the Stanley Cup was brought to the Heritage City as part of CBC’s salute to the national sport.
Hockey fans lined up around the NDCC concourse for a chance to have a photo with the Stanley Cup. — The Nelson Daily photo
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