This year’s Stanley Cup Final between the Florida Panthers and Edmonton Oilers will feature a battle between two former members of the Kootenay Ice.
The leading scorer for the Panthers is former Ice star Sam Reinhart, while former Ice coach Kris Knoblauch is the Oilers head coach and former coach of Reinhart.
Reinhart spent five seasons in Cranbrook between 2010 and 2015, while Knoblauch was the assistant coach for the Ice from 20017-2010 and head coach from 2010-2012.
If the Oilers win the cup, it would be the first time a Canadian team has won in 30 years.
In a pre-series press conference, Knoblauch said they are focusing on winning for the team, but encourages all Canadians to cheer them on.
“It’s all about accomplishing something for the guys in the room, they’re close and tightly knit and they’ve been through a lot of ups and downs,” he said.
“They want to win for each other I think that’s the biggest thing and the other is wanting to win for the city. For the rest of Canada, they can jump on board too. All the support we can get is great.”
While on the ice after the Panthers eliminated the New York Rangers, Reinhart said the team needs to keep playing to the same level.
“It’s such a grind,” he said.
“We’re here now and we need to keep building on our game and keep doing the things that are getting us success.”
Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final is set for 6 p.m. on June 8.
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