The Stanley Cup, one of the most iconic trophy’s in professional sports, is in San Diego with Pittsburgh Penguins Defenseman and National Hockey League Champion Chad Ruhwedel.
“It’s here! The best trophy in sports is here in San Diego,” said a smiling Ruhwedel during an event at San Diego Ice Arena. Over a thousand people showed up to get their picture with the Stanley Cup and get an autograph from Ruhwedel.
“It’s so cool. I was thinking a hundred, maybe two hundred when I heard it was going to be around a thousand people or more, it just blew, my mind it’s crazy. I’m fortunate to have this kind of support. I am glad I can bring it back to San Diego.”
Ruhwedel, who was born in Sand Diego and attended Scripps Ranch High School, grew up playing youth hockey at the San Diego Ice Arena. Ruhwedel called bringing the Stanley Cup back to his hometown a dream come true.
“That’s exactly what it was… a dream. I never thought it would necessarily come true, but I’m glad it did.”
The Penguins defeated the Nashville Predators on June 11th in the Stanley Cup Finals. Per tradition, each member of the championship organization gets a day to spend with the cup. Today was Ruhwedel’s day. After the public showcase, Ruhwedel and his family have some private events planned for the rest of the day.
Every player on an NHL championship team gets his name engraved on the Stanley Cup, that means Chad Ruhwedel’s name will be on the cup just like Wayne Gretzky, Bobby Orr, Gordie Howe and many more of the NHL’s all-time greats.
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“It’s so cool, it’s just covered in Hall of Famers, it’s an honor.”
Ruhwedel recently signed a 2-year contract extension with the Pittsburgh Penguins, so maybe this San Diego hockey player will have another chance to bring the Stanley Cup back to his hometown.
