Stanley Cup could return to Essex-County soon
Dave and Lisa Ekblad have been to every Stanley Cup Finals game this spring.
“It's certainly surreal and still don't believe it,” Dave told CTV News.
The Florida Panthers are a win away from hoisting the Stanley Cup for the first time in franchise history, and their son Aaron is helping lead the way.
“You're always on pins and needles and, you know, hoping for the best and preparing for the worst. We have flights booked back for game five in Florida,” Dave said.
St. Louis assistant coach Steve Ott brought Lord Stanley's cup to Essex County in 2019.
“We incorporated a wonderful ceremony into Canada Day and it was such a spectacular event, so it'd be nice to see that happen again for us,” said Lakeshore Mayor Tracey Bailey.
The last player from the area to win it was Amherstburg's Kevin Westgarth in 2012.
Richard Ofner, a board member with the Sun County Panthers, can't help but be proud of one of their grads.
He said the Belle River native was denied a chance to play with the older kids three times with Sun County, but ran with the opportunity once given the chance.
“He excelled right off the bat playing for Todd Lalonde and played minor midget as a bantam major player and was granted exceptional status to be drafted first overall to Barrie,” Ofner said.
Ekblad went on to be drafted first overall by Florida in 2014 and is on the verge lifting the cup.
“Get a lot of nice messages and things along the way, a lot of people at least saying they're rooting for us, I believe them,” Dave said.
Despite being down 0-3, Oilers’ fans still have faith.
“A hundred per cent,” said Andromeda Dean, a retired teacher from Sandwich Secondary, who is from Edmonton.
She was back home Thursday for game three. Dean roots for former Spitfire Adam Henrique and the Oilers, but also has a soft spot for Florida head coach Paul Maurice, a former Spitfire, and Ekblad.
“I would love, love, love to see that cup come home and to Windsor. I mean, Edmonton is my home. That's where I'm from. But Windsor is now my new home,” said Dean.
A Canadian team hasn’t won the cup since Montreal in 1993. The last team to rebound from an 0-3 deficit in the Stanley Cup Final was Toronto in 1942.
The odds are against Edmonton breaking the streak but the cup will be in Canada this summer.
“I can't help but stick close to the hometown proud feeling that I have so I am an Aaron Ekblad fan and I am a fan of bringing it back home so yes, go Florida,” Bailey said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
B.C. election results: NDP gains ground in latest release of mail-in ballot data
Elections BC released its first partial results of the final count in B.C.'s 2024 provincial election Saturday afternoon, and the data shows NDP candidates gaining in some tight races.
Ontario man tells police he harmed two family members, three found dead
Huntsville OPP and the Special Investigations Unit (SIU) are conducting a homicide investigation after three individuals were found dead in a Huntsville neighbourhood Friday evening.
Trump refers to CNN's Anderson Cooper by a woman's first name
Former U.S. president Donald Trump has repeatedly referred to CNN anchor Anderson Cooper with a woman's first name in recent days as the Republican presidential nominee focuses his closing message on a hypermasculine appeal to men.
Lawsuit alleges Ontario man died after given 10 times prescribed dose in hospital
Angela Salvatore had been away from her father's hospital bedside for just over an hour when she says she got a frantic call from a nurse, pleading with her to calm him down.
15-year-old found dead in eastern Ontario, teen facing second-degree murder charge: OPP
Ontario Provincial Police say a 16-year-old has been charged with second-degree murder after a 15-year-old was found dead at a home in Perth, Ont. Friday afternoon.
Lizzo's Halloween costume draws inspiration from 'South Park' episode that referenced her and the weight-loss drug Ozempic
Lizzo has taken a rather silly reference to her on a recent 'South Park' episode and elevated it to a hilarious Halloween costume.
What we know about the Canadians busted in an international drug ring led by a former Olympic athlete
Canadian Ryan James Wedding finished in 24th place in the parallel giant slalom at the 2002 Winter Games in Salt Lake City, but the snowboarder wouldn’t go on to improve his results in Torino four years later.
Ottawa journalist says claims that he is a Russian agent are 'fabricated'
A veteran Ottawa journalist is firing back against what he says are "entirely false" claims by a former Conservative cabinet minister that he acted as a Russian agent.
Israel's first open attack on Iran targets missile sites and apparently spares oil and nuclear ones
Israel attacked military targets in Iran with pre-dawn airstrikes Saturday in retaliation for the barrage of ballistic missiles the Islamic Republic fired on Israel earlier this month. It was the first time Israel's military has openly attacked Iran.