As I said, though, I cheer more for players than specific teams, so there are a pile of people I'm happy to see win tonight. I'll go in no particular order, but they include:
- PHIL KESSEL: Yes, he already had two Stanley Cups on his mantle at home, but he adds a third one to the set after winning tonight. For me, it's hard not to like Phil - a guy who is legitimately as comeptitive as they come when on the ice, but also knows that there are priorities greater than hockey when off it. Seeing him sidelined throughout the final three rounds wasn't something I enjoyed, but having Phil's big smile on the ice after winning is something I enjoyed seeing. The fact that he never lets Toronto media off the hook about how they ran him out of town also makes him a beauty. I'm happy Phil Kessel won his third ring tonight.
- ZACH WHITECLOUD: After hearing ESPN broadcaster John Anderson make fun of his last name and, in doing so, his heritage, I'm happy that Zach Whitecould will forever have his name on the Stanley Cup. Whitecloud talked about the pride he has in his heritage in terms of his Indigenous background, and that's something that I'm glad he's celebrating. He's an incredible defender, he plays at both ends of the rink with great skill, he sees the game so well, and he's an upstanding individual. If Indigenous kids or any other kids need a role model to follow, Zach Whitecloud would be the guy I'd suggest after all he's accomplished in his life. And he still has decades of time to do so much more!
- JONATHAN MARCHESSAULT: If anyone tells you that you're too small to play in the NHL, the names of Martin St. Louis and Jonathan Marchessault should keep you going. Marchessault won the Conn Smythe Trophy as the playoff MVP for the Golden Knights after he simply scored goals from all angles. There wasn't a goaltender in any series that could stop him, and he seemed to get better as the playoffs went on. Like St. Louis, he was undrafted, he had to work his tail off, and he eventually became an everyday player. While St. Louis was an MVP in the regular season for Tampa Bay, Marchessault can claim rights as a playoff MVP with both men being 5'8" and 5'9", respectfully. Drive, determination, and no shortage of skills will always be something NHL GMs and coaches want, so don't let height and size factor into keeping you from being your best. I'm happy Marchessault was recognized tonight after he showed how good he can be.
- JACK EICHEL: After being the "consolation prize" in the Connor McDavid sweepstakes, Jack Eichel's name will now appear on the Stanley Cup before McDavid's name will. No one ever thought that Eichel was some sort of downgrade in skill, but Eichel's time in Buffalo saw him play with less overall talent, a serious neck injury, and management who simply wouldn't allow him to be himself. After fighting for a trade that moved him from Buffalo to Las Vegas, he got the surgery he sought for his neck, came back and looked as good as ever, and now owns a Stanley Cup ring. While he'll always be #2 in that 2015 NHL Entry Draft, he's now casting his own shadow in the desert over hockey. And it's certainly earned.
- LAURENT BROSSOIT: It seemed like Laurent Brossoit was destined to fade into the desert night after hip surgery pushed the Golden Knights to assign him to the AHL's Henderson Silver Knights on a long-term injured reserve conditioning loan on Halloween where he promptly was lit up for 22 goals in his first seven games. However, Brossoit fixed the mechanical and mental blocks he was facing and went on a tear, eventually being named as the AHL Player of the Week in mid-December. In February, he was recalled due to an injury to Logan Thompson, and proceeded to help Vegas win the Pacific Division, defeat his old team in the Winnipeg Jets, and post a series lead against Edmonton before being injured. An up-and-down year for Brossoit that started with surgery, led to the AHL, and eventually led back to the NHL now sees him claim the ultimate "up": a Stanley Cup ring!
- MANITOBA HOCKEY: Say what you want about how the Golden Knights were constructed, but there's a clear Manitoba presence in T-Mobile Arena. The man in the big chair, GM Kelly McCrimmon, was born in Saskatchewan, but we know about all the great work he did with the WHL's Brandon Wheat Kings before his call to join the NHL came. Assistant director of player personnel Bob Lowes played for the Manitoba Bisons and got his degree from the university. And, of course, there are the players and coaches that include Brandon's Keegan Kolesar, Winnipeg's Mark Stone, the aforementioned Zach Whitecloud from Sioux Valley, Winnipeg's Nolan Patrick, Winkler's Byron Froese, and goalie coach Vaughn Karpan from Flin Flon who all played a part in Vegas's success this year. And that list doesn't include both Jiri Patera and Logan Thompson who both played with the Brandon Wheat Kings, and Laurent Brossoit who played with the Winnipeg Jets. In short, Manitoba's hockey scene had a very good night tonight.
Congratulations to the 2022-23 Vegas Golden Knights, your 2023 Stanley Cup champions!
Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!
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