A crowd of close to 600 people were gathered at Western Financial Place on Tuesday, Aug 16, patiently awaiting the arrival of NHL champion Bowen Byram and the Stanley Cup.
Byram brought the Stanley Cup to his hometown to celebrate with friends and family, while also attending a photo-op with the general public.
Byram won the Stanley Cup with the Colorado Avalanche on June 26, when Colorado defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final.
The Avalanche defenceman says it香蕉视频直播檚 a 香蕉视频直播済reat feeling香蕉视频直播� to bring the cup to his hometown 香蕉视频直播� this being the ninth occasion the cup has visited.
香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 a lot of fun [to be home],香蕉视频直播� Byram said at the photo-op on Tuesday. 香蕉视频直播淕rowing up and playing minor hockey here 香蕉视频直播� it香蕉视频直播檚 special to have it here and that people in the community get to see it and [I can] chat with some people. It香蕉视频直播檚 been a fun day so far.
香蕉视频直播淚n small towns there are a lot of people who help out with minor hockey. I had a lot of good coaches growing up 香蕉视频直播� just very fortunate to grow up in Cranbrook in such a rich hockey environment.香蕉视频直播�
Byram himself is Cranbrook香蕉视频直播檚 fifth Stanley Cup winner, joining the company of past winners Scott and Rob Niedermayer, Brad Lukowych and Jon Klemm.
香蕉视频直播淭o bring the cup back home is a really special experience and I香蕉视频直播檓 very grateful that I got to have it this early on in my career,香蕉视频直播� Byram said. 香蕉视频直播淵ou never know, maybe I香蕉视频直播檒l be lucky enough to do it a couple more times.香蕉视频直播�
Byram says he was fortunate to get drafted by the Colorado Avalanche and that winning the Stanley Cup is a dream come true.
香蕉视频直播淚 definitely knew I was fortunate to get drafted by the Avs 香蕉视频直播� they already had a really solid team,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淭hey got the pick for me from Ottawa. They made the playoffs that year, and made it to the second round, so I knew I was going to have a chance. Obviously, you never really know 香蕉视频直播� a lot of good teams don香蕉视频直播檛 ever win the Stanley Cup. Growing up you always want to be a Stanley Cup Champion and now that I am, it香蕉视频直播檚 kind of hard to describe.香蕉视频直播�
Byram had an adverse start to his NHL career, missing almost three months and a string of 32 games because of concussion symptoms. Despite this, he overcame the injuries and proved to be a key contributor on the Avalanche team.
香蕉视频直播淚t was a frustrating couple years, I guess, not playing as many games as I would have liked due to injuries and other things. But I think it was honestly a positive for me to go through that early in my career,香蕉视频直播� Byram said. 香蕉视频直播淵ou know, it香蕉视频直播檚 never easy to come back from injuries so I was very fortunate to come back and have a spot in the lineup again. I just tried to contribute any way I could in the playoffs.香蕉视频直播�
When asked how it feels to lift the Stanley Cup in the air right after the victory, Byram said it香蕉视频直播檚 hard to describe.
香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 a special feeling, it香蕉视频直播檚 hard to describe to people. You香蕉视频直播檝e just gone through a really tough couple months and to finally get there it香蕉视频直播檚 almost relief, in some way. There香蕉视频直播檚 a lot of stress and anxiety, whatever you want to call it, throughout the playoffs and throughout the year. Especially when you香蕉视频直播檙e on a team that has a lot of buzz about it. We were cup favourites going into the year 香蕉视频直播� so it香蕉视频直播檚 a relief but it香蕉视频直播檚 also very exciting. It香蕉视频直播檚 hard to put into words.香蕉视频直播�
He adds that overall it was a great year with many highlights throughout the playoff season.
香蕉视频直播淭here香蕉视频直播檚 a lot [of highlights]. I can think of a lot of moments through the playoffs,香蕉视频直播� he said with a laugh. 香蕉视频直播淟ooking back now, you really wish you could have soaked it in a bit more, but there香蕉视频直播檚 so much going on that it kind of just flashes by.香蕉视频直播�
Following his photo-op with the community, Byram says he will celebrate with the Stanley Cup alongside his family and friends before the cup moves on to another player.
