From the Stanley Cup Final and Game 7 last night, the Florida Panthers shaded the Edmonton Oilers 2-1.
The game could’ve gone either way.
The Oilers Captain # 97 Connor McDavid won the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff Most Valuable Player with 42 points.
It was a roller coaster ride for the Oilers fans and Canada, but hey, Edmonton forced a Game 7 after being down 3 games to none and gave it their all right until the final horn last night in Sunrise, Florida.
With the loss, Canada’s Stanley Cup drought reaches 31 years, the Montreal Canadiens last won it in 1993.
It was great to see long-time NHL coach Paul Maurice hoist the Cup after over 30 years on an NHL bench, 26 years as a Head Coach and over 1800 games behind the bench.
Also cool to see Roberto Luongo lift Stanley, he’s in the Panthers front office now.
On a local note, congrats to my friend NHL linesman # 83 Matt MacPherson from Antigonish who officiated Game 7 last night.
With the loss, Canada’s Stanley Cup drought reaches 31 years, the Montreal Canadiens last won it in 1993.
It was great to see long-time NHL coach Paul Maurice hoist the Cup after over 30 years on an NHL bench, 26 years as a Head Coach and over 1800 games behind the bench.
Also cool to see Roberto Luongo lift Stanley, he’s in the Panthers front office now.
On a local note, congrats to my friend NHL linesman # 83 Matt MacPherson from Antigonish who officiated Game 7 last night.
(Above: Matt MacPherson drops the puck with Sidney Crosby at the Nova Scotia Showdown on October 2, 2023, in Halifax.)
Just like the players, this is the pinnacle for the officials. Matt came up through the ranks in the QMJHL working Halifax Mooseheads games.
Matt has been a mentor to Drake in his 14-year officiating career.
(Above: 2012 Drake, Matt and Ian at the Don Koharski Referee Camp in Moncton.)
The Panthers had 12 Canadian born players, so the Stanley Cup will spend some time here “north of the border’ with Cup Keeper Phil Pritchard.
(Above: Ian with Phil Pritchard “The Cup Keeper” at The World Juniors in Halifax, 2003.)
The NHL Awards will be given out this Thursday and followed by the NHL Draft on Friday.
-Ian
(Credits: Ian Robinson Photos.)
