Colorado Avalanche players with ties to southern Alberta on top of the world as Stanley Cup Champions
It was a historic win for the Colorado Avalanche last night as they dethroned the reigning champs, the Tampa Bay Lightning, to claim their third Stanley Cup.
A major contributor for the Avs was defender Cale Makar, whose 29 points in 20 games earned him the Conn Smythe Award given to the playoffs most valuable player.
"Obviously so grateful and just honoured to be a part of this success and to help guys that have been through the ups and downs of this team succeed," Makar said during a postgame interview.
"It's surreal. I'm not too worried about this individual stuff, just celebrating the main thing with the boys."
Cale Makar is presented with Conn Smythe trophy as the outstanding performer of the 2022 Stanley Cup playoffs.
Prior to being drafted fourth overall by the Avalanche in 2017, the Calgary native spent three seasons with the Brooks Bandits, which included a 75 point year in 2016-2017.
On top of winning the Conn Smythe, Makar took home the James Norris Memorial trophy as the league’s top defender.
He also won the Calder Memorial trophy for best rookie back in 2019-2020.
Makar said he attributes his success to his team and the tough opposition they've faced year after year.
"They pushed me so hard all year and just to be the player that I developed into throughout the season," he said following the NHL Awards on June 1st.
"A lot of credit goes to them and just motivating me and stuff. It's awesome when you have great competition like that. Makes it a lot more fun."
Another key player on the Avs was rookie defender Bowen Byram from Cranbrook, B.C.
Byram had nine assists in the post season and his long time coach, Michael Dyck, says it was a pleasure to watch him play.
"It's been a lot of fun to watch him grow as a person and as a hockey player and so proud of what he's accomplished," Dyck told CTV News.
"Not only winning the Stanley Cup but about how well he played through the entire Stanley Cup playoffs."
Dyck and Byram’s history goes all the way back to peewee hockey in Cranbrook and carried through to the Lethbridge Golden Hawks, the Vancouver Giants and the 2021 World Juniors.
Dyck said he can't wait to chat with Byram once the excitement starts to settle.
"He's had a great opportunity, I’m sure, to enjoy the win with the family and his teammates and now he gets an opportunity to go back to Denver and enjoy it with the fans," he said.
"When things start to calm down a little bit, I’m looking forward to having that conversation with him."
A Stanley Cup victory parade for Makar, Byram and the Avalanche will be held in Denver on Thursday.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Liberals must now sell a budget they say will help younger Canadians catch up
It's now up to the federal Liberal government to sell a spending plan it says will help younger Canadians catch up to their elders.
Some of the winners and losers in the 2024 federal budget
With a variety of fiscal and policy measures announced in the federal budget, winners include small businesses and fintech companies while losers include the tobacco industry and Canadian pension funds.
British actor Hugh Grant settles privacy lawsuit against publisher of the Sun: court documents
British actor Hugh Grant has settled a lawsuit against the publisher of The Sun tabloid newspaper over claims journalists used private investigators to tap his phone and burgle his house, his lawyer said in court documents on Wednesday.
500 Newfoundlanders wound up on the same cruise and it turned into a rocking kitchen party
A Celebrity Apex cruise to the Caribbean this month turned into a rocking Newfoundland kitchen party when hundreds of people from Canada's easternmost province happened to be booked on the same ship.
Father of boy accused of stabbing 2 Australian clerics saw no signs of extremism, Muslim leader says
The father of a boy accused of stabbing two Christian clerics in Australia saw no signs of his son’s extremism, a Muslim community leader said on Wednesday as police began arresting suspected rioters who besieged a Sydney church demanding revenge.
Stretching isn't always the answer for pain and muscle tension
For years, conventional wisdom in fitness culture has promoted the belief that stretching to become more flexible leads to better movement and injury prevention.
Teen hockey players arrested for sexual assault following hazing incident: Manitoba RCMP
Three teenagers were arrested in connection with a pair of alleged hazing incidents on a Manitoba hockey team, police say.
Trio found guilty of mischief for roles in 2022 border blockade at Coutts, Alta.
Three men accused by the Crown of helping lead and coordinate the COVID-19 protest blockade at Coutts, Alta., in 2022 have been found guilty of mischief.
From housing initiatives to a disability benefit, how the federal budget impacts you
From plans to boost new housing stock, encourage small businesses, and increase taxes on Canada’s top-earners, CTVNews.ca has sifted through the 416-page budget to find out what will make the biggest difference to your pocketbook.