Logan O'Connor returns to old Calgary haunts and brings the Stanley Cup with him
Logan O'Connor grew up playing hockey at the Flames Community Arena's, first for Glen Lake and then for the Calgary Royals.
So for his day with the Stanley Cup, O'Connor thought it was rather fitting to bring it back to the rink he played so many games in.
The 25-year-old said sharing it with the fans in a place he had so many good memories in was the right thing to do.
"It's been pretty crazy to bring it back here and share it with the community," O'Connor said.
"Our family's motto has always been it takes a village to get someone to this level and then win so share it with everyone. To see the smiles on young kids faces that's sort of what it's all about."
LONG ROAD TO THE NHL
O'Connor's path to the NHL was a different one. He was never drafted into the NHL. Instead he played three seasons at the University of Denver and then signed on with the Avalanche as a free agent in 2019-20.
For the first three seasons, O'Connor only got into 43 games with the Avalanche but this year he played 81 games with the Avs and helped them win the Stanley Cup.
O'Connor's story is all about perseverance and determination and never giving up on your dream. His advice to kids is if you want it enough keep pushing.
"Sometimes the dream can look unrealistic at times when you're a young kid and face adversity but I think it's good for everyone to just stick to what they (love to) do," he said. "Have fun and be a good teammate and a good person and if you do all of those things then good things are bound to happen. So that's the message for any young kid out there who's trying to make this their reality I guess."
O'Connor loved sharing the Stanley Cup with the fans on Wednesday and they came out in full force to get a glimpse of it. Following an on-ice ceremony, fans lined up to have their picture taken with O'Connor and the Cup.
Finn Rowan and his friend Logan Bailey were fortunate enough to be the first in line. Rowan says it's as moment he'll remember forever.
Finn Rowan and his friend Logan Bailey were fortunate enough to be the first in line.
"I mean it's pretty cool. It’s not everyday you get to see the Stanley Cup so it's really cool."
It's also cool for Logan O'Connor to be able to spend his own day with the Cup. He says he has to pinch himself every time he realizes he's a Stanley Cup champ.
"Definitely it still doesn't feel like sometimes that this is happening," he said.
"You know all of my hopes and dreams coming true and being in Calgary with the Stanley Cup in the community, it's still hard to think about it at times and wrap my head around it."
Cale Makar gets the Stanley Cup on Thursday and part of the itinerary is to take it to the place where he grew up playing hockey, the Crowchild Twin Arenas.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'Anything to win': Trudeau says as Poilievre defends meeting protesters
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is accusing Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre of welcoming 'the support of conspiracy theorists and extremists,' after the Conservative leader was photographed meeting with protesters, which his office has defended.
What is changing about Canada's capital gains tax and how does it impact me?
The federal government's proposed change to capital gains taxation is expected to increase taxes on investments and mainly affect wealthy Canadians and businesses. Here's what you need to know about the move.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.
Bank of Canada officials split on when to start cutting interest rates
Members of the Bank of Canada's governing council were split on how long the central bank should wait before it starts cutting interest rates when they met earlier this month.
Pilot reported fire onboard plane carrying fuel, attempted to return to Fairbanks just before crash
One of the two pilots aboard an airplane carrying fuel reported there was a fire on the airplane shortly before it crashed and burned outside Fairbanks, killing both people on board, a federal aviation official said Wednesday.
'One of the single most terrifying things ever': Ontario couple among passengers on sinking tour boat in Dominican Republic
A Toronto couple are speaking out about their 'extremely dangerous' experience on board a sinking tour boat in the Dominican Republic last week.
Quebec nurse had to clean up after husband's death in Montreal hospital
On a night she should have been mourning, a nurse from Quebec's Laurentians region says she was forced to clean up her husband after he died at a hospital in Montreal.
7 surveillance videos linked to extortions of South Asian home builders in Edmonton released
The Edmonton Police Service has released a number of surveillance videos related to a series of extortion cases in the city now dubbed 'Project Gaslight.'
Ukraine uses long-range missiles secretly provided by U.S. to hit Russian-held areas, officials say
Ukraine for the first time has begun using long-range ballistic missiles provided secretly by the United States, bombing a Russian military airfield in Crimea last week and Russian forces in another occupied area overnight, American officials said Wednesday.