1000’s of people today lined the streets of uptown Saint John Thursday to rejoice the Saint John Sea Dogs’ Memorial Cup acquire on home ice.
With staff jerseys in abundance, jubilant fans cheered as the cup champions paraded previous in an antique fire truck and a Coastline Guard inflatable boat.
With typically-hoarse voices, the gamers chanted, sang and cheered along with the supporters as the parade wound close to King’s Sq. and down King Road, led by mascot Fleaburn on a unicycle.
It was a relocating tribute to the Cinderella complete of a staff knocked out in the first round.
The parade environment was “electric,” mentioned arranging committee member Derek Cooling from the principal phase of the waterfront container village, where the parade ultimately finished.
Cooling stated Saint Johners arrived out in droves to support the Sea Canine. Even these who weren’t hockey admirers turned out to aid the many other gatherings held all around the town in conjunction with the 12-day celebration.
Check out Sea Doggy fans march via Saint John to celebrate Memorial Cup victory
“The town really embraced this match,” he reported.
Cooling said he’s listened to a large amount of positive suggestions from members of the Canadian Hockey League and they stated Saint John has “rewritten the guide on how to run a festival in your town surrounded by a hockey tournament, and I assume which is the script likely forward.”
From season-ticket holder to Mem Cup champ
Nick Blagden has been a admirer of the Saint John Sea Dogs given that he was three yrs old.
“I had time tickets for 13 several years and now I’m component of the workforce. It truly is, you know, it truly is an wonderful prospect and I am speechless about that.”
Blagden had been participating in in Moncton when he was traded to the Sea Canines six months ago.
The 19-12 months-aged from Prince of Wales mentioned winning the Memorial Cup in his hometown Wednesday with the 6-3 defeat of the Hamilton Bulldogs was further distinctive, generating memories he will cherish endlessly.
“Just remaining from Saint John and recognizing how significantly it indicates to this metropolis in the past 10 days,” stated Blagden from the phase at the container village.
“It sends chills down me appropriate now and it just leaves me speechless, like I can not believe it. You know, a hometown boy, you won’t be able to script it a great deal superior than that to earn the Memorial Cup.”
Blagden isn’t really sure you will find a way to best the experience.
“A great deal of individuals say that junior hockey is the ideal time of your lifestyle. And correct now, I’m on the peak of the mountain. So it is really just been awesome.
“I am obtaining the greatest time of my daily life, but also just won the largest prize, the toughest trophy to earn in sports activities, the Memorial Cup. So I do not seriously know the place to go just after that.”
For now, Blagden claimed he is going to get pleasure from the support of his hometown and the celebratory glow that will probable melt away a small more time.
“The parade was great. The city was buzzing,” he said.
“They’re so electric for us and they have been the backbone to this earn for us. We could not have completed it devoid of anybody in this city. We couldn’t have finished it devoid of our trainers, our workers, good friends, family members, all people. And, you know, our supporters were being our spine. They pushed us via. So it is really been magnificent.”
Cole Harbour, N.S., indigenous Connor Trenholm was also traded to the Sea Pet dogs 6 months back. He’s grateful for the timing.
“I was so excited simply because I realized we have been web hosting Mem Cup and I understood this was a excellent chance for myself and the group and the city of Saint John. So I was ecstatic to be traded right here.
“I could not have dreamed of this any far better,” claimed Trenholm, whose mothers and fathers, sister and girlfriend ended up all in Saint John for the championship.
Alex Campbell and his pal Brady Burns were being section of the huge range of Saint John enthusiasts who arrived out to celebrate with the Sea Puppies at Thursday’s parade.
The boys watched the activity with each other on tv the night just before.
“We essentially took a travel uptown later on right after the sport, and it was fairly bonkers — car horns have been likely everywhere you go and it was very enjoyable,” reported Alex.
“It was a rather wonderful minute for the metropolis. Undoubtedly a person that we will don’t forget.”
Justin Dryden was at the championship-profitable video game on Wednesday night time and came out to celebrate at Thursday’s victory parade.
“It was large. It was epic. And to win it here in Saint John is a thing that will hardly ever be neglected,” mentioned Dryden.
Grits Ansons was also at the parade, lining up early at the foot of King Street to make certain he observed his son, Raivis, parade by in victory with his teammates.
Ansons and his brother-in-legislation, Juris Geida, travelled all the way from Latvia to check out Raivis, a forward, contend in the Memorial Cup as a Sea Doggy.
“It was great,” reported Geida of the Memorial Cup and all Saint John experienced to present.
