Excitement growing in NHL finals as someone from southwestern Ontario will hoist the Stanley Cup
Excitement is growing for game two of the Stanley Cup Finals on Monday, and with local representation on either team, someone from southwestern Ontario will hoist the Stanley Cup.
A player from Kitchener with the Las Vegas Golden Knights, a player from Six Nations and aplayer from Paris, Ont. on the Florida Panthers are vying for the NHL championship.
In the first game of the series held Saturday, the Vegas Golden Knights beat the Florida Panthers 5-2.
KITCHENER’S NICOLAS HAGUE
Fans on King Street cheered on Kitchener’s Nicolas Hague, who now plays defence for the Golden Knights. Bobby O’Briens hosted the City of Kitchener’s viewing party.
Hague is a former Kitchener Dutchmen, and before that, he played for the Kitchener Junior Rangers.
Dean DeSilva was his head coach when he played with the Kitchener Junior Rangers U16 AAA team back in 2014.
DeSilva said he has been in contact with Hague ever since.
" That’s Nic. He hasn’t lost that value of where he’s from and the community that he’s from," DeSilva told CTV News.
DeSilva admitted that a lot has changed since then - mainly his size. Hague is now 6'6".
"When he played for me he was a Bambi on ice," joked DeSilva.
But one thing that hasn't changed is Hague's humble personality.
“He is one of the nicest humans I ever met. Even at 15 years old, you could see the foundation that his parents instilled in him,” DeSilva said. "He was a great teammate. A great player and he just wanted to get better.
DeSilva said he is confident that the Golden Knights will do well during the rest of the finals.
“Vegas is up for the challenge, and Nic will be there in the thick of things, I’m sure,” he said.
Hague's parents are in Las Vegas, supporting their son and said they couldn't be more thrilled for his success.
"We are super proud and excited for Nic and appreciate all the local support that Nic and the Golden Knights are receiving," his parents said to CTV News in an online message.
Tim Barrie with the Ayr Centennials, who bought the Kitchener Dutchmen, said they are also cheering Hague on.
"Nic is a great ambassador to local hockey," said Barrie. "Ayr is proud of Nic."
Barrie said there will be a Wall of Fame installed in the future that will include Hague.
SIX NATIONS CELEBRATES BRANDON MONTOUR
There was also a viewing party in Six Nations for game one, where all eyes were on Brandon Montour who now is a defenceman for the Panthers.
Montour spent part of his childhood in Oshweken.
Six Nations elected Chief Mark Hill says the best part of his success is the impact on youth in the community.
“It’s an incredible feeling. We’re doing everything to support him, as much as we can. We came up with a fundraiser, lawn signs and decals… all proceeds which will go back to our local minor sports association and teams in Six Nations,” Hill said at the viewing party.
Montour himself said he was grateful for all the support from Six Nations.
“The support, not just for myself, Zac Dalpe, he’s obviously from Paris, which is 15, 20 minutes away as well. To have two guys playing at this level and playing into June – you got the whole city, the whole town, the reserve watching. So it’s a support. We don’t want to let them down. We’re going to play as hard as we can to get that done,” Montour said in an interview with Sportsnet.
According to his NHL profile, Dalpe was born in Paris, Ont. and was drafted in 2008 in the second round and went 45th overall.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
B.C. tenants evicted for landlord's use after refusing large rent increase to take over neighbouring suite
Ashley Dickey and her mother rented part of the same Coquitlam duplex in three different decades under three different landlords.
MPP Sarah Jama asked to leave Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
MPP Sarah Jama was asked to leave the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by House Speaker Ted Arnott on Thursday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment which has been banned at Queen’s Park.
Mountain guide dies after falling into a crevasse in Banff National Park
A man who fell into a crevasse while leading a backcountry ski group deep in the Canadian Rockies has died.
Body of Quebec man who died in Cuba found in Russia, family confirms
A Montreal-area family confirmed to CTV News that the body of their loved one who died while on vacation in Cuba is being repatriated to Canada after it was mistakenly sent to Russia.
Expert warns of food consumption habits amid rising prices
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
Saskatchewan isn't remitting the carbon tax on home heating. Why isn't my province following suit?
After Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the federal government would still send Canada Carbon Rebate cheques to Saskatchewan residents, despite Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe's decision to stop collecting the carbon tax on natural gas or home heating, questions were raised about whether other provinces would follow suit. CTV News reached out across the country and here's what we found out.
Montreal actress calls Weinstein ruling 'discouraging' but not surprising
A Montreal actress, who has previously detailed incidents she had with disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, says a New York Court of Appeals decision overturning his 2020 rape conviction is 'discouraging' but not surprising.
RCMP officers had no legal authority to enter man's home, make arrest: B.C. court
A B.C. man has been found not guilty of assaulting two RCMP officers – with the court finding he was resisting an "unlawful entry and arrest" in his home before he was tasered, taken down and hauled away in handcuffs.
'Deep ignorance': Calls for Manitoba trustee to resign sparked after comments about Indigenous people and reconciliation
A rural Manitoba school trustee is facing calls to resign over comments he made about Indigenous people and residential schools earlier this week.