Lord Stanley, at Last!

It seemed somewhat anti-climactic after the insanity that was the fifth game, but the Red Wings are bringing home the cup once more, and I, for one, could not be happier. Playing in their 104th game of the season they clinched their 11th NHL championship and 4th in the last 11 seasons. They did it this year by closing out every playoff series on the road, by battling through doubt, questionable calls, trash-talking coaches, and always believing in one another. It is the epitome of why I love team sports, and especially hockey.

How beautiful to see such a deserving guy like Nick Lidstrom, hoist the cup as team captain, and it was fantastic to witness Dallas Drake, NMU alum, after 16 seasons and at age 39 win his first NHL championship with the same team he began his career with. By far though my favorite moment of the night was watching Dan Cleary, cool and collected, be interviewed by the Canadian announcer. Moments later he located his wife and baby daughter in the crowd and dissolved into a puddle of tears and emotion. After fighting back from a horrifically broken jaw, Cleary will now bring the Stanley Cup home to Newfoundland for the first time ever.

So, now I can breathe once again and my continual talk of playoffs, and Cups and Red Wings will perhaps not be so prevalent on my blog (well, once the victory parade is over on Friday, and of course, there is always next season!) For now, I will sit quietly and smile, perusing all of the interviews, articles, videos, and photos I can find on the Internet, secure in the knowledge that the best team won. Go Red Wings!