Hometown hockey star bringing Stanley Cup to East Gwillimbury

After a Stanley Cup final featuring duelling hometown York Region stars, the cup is coming to East Gwillimbury Aug. 16.

NHL star Sam Bennett of the Florida Panthers is bringing the cup home after defeating Newmarket’s Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers. Now, East Gwillimbury and its minor hockey association will be hosting a celebration, along with signing and photo opportunities at the East Gwillimbury Sports Complex beginning at 9 a.m.

“Join us for the celebration, and don’t miss your opportunity to meet Sam,” the municipality said on social media.

Bennett and McDavid are famed for being teammates on the same York-Simcoe Express team growing up in the area. But it would be Bennett’s Panthers that would come out ahead, with the best-of-seven final going all the way to a seventh game.

Now, Bennett will get a day with the Stanley Cup, a tradition that each player with the winning team gets to have.

“East Gwillimbury is proud of you Sam,” Mayor Virgina Hackson said after the cup win.

The municipality reminds anyone attending who is interested to bring something for Bennett to sign.

The event has generated excitement on social media.

“These days with the cups don't happen often in small towns. Come out and celebrate an accomplishment of a lifetime,” one local said on Facebook.

The cup will also be on a tight schedule and leaving at 10:30 a.m. sharp, the municipality said.

You can learn more at eastgwillimbury.ca/StanleyCup.