Commentary: A Tale Of Two Cities

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The contrast of Wednesday evening was not lost on me.

After a worldwide summer tour – minus Russia – the Stanley Cup is back in South Florida for a string of events this month.

The local Panthers won the NHL championship on June 24, with a 2-1 victory over the Edmonton Oilers in Game 7.

The party has gone on all summer and will continue, I’m told, till October 8 when Florida hosts Boston in the 2024-25 home-opener.

I was lucky enough to be invited to a Stanley Cup party last night at a Downtown Fort Lauderdale restaurant and there were a handle of Panthers staffers there, along with star defenceman Aaron Ekblad.

I had to dip out briefly to do an interview in the parking lot with the South Florida Tribune podcast, but about 15 minutes in, I got the call that our number was up to get a photo with the trophy.

It was handshakes and smiles all around, and it was awesome to catch up with the Keeper of the Cup, Phil Pritchard, who very easily kept our group entertained with stories of travelling with the Cup over the past 30 or so years.

Yes, he had his white gloves with him, in his pocket.

Phil explained that the tradition of players taking the Cup home for a day began in 1989 with the Calgary Flames, when forward Colin Patterson asked if he could take the trophy to his hometown.

So speaking of Calgary, I knew there was to be a candlelight vigil for Johnny Gaudreau on Wednesday evening, going on pretty much at the same time of this event at Café Seville. There was a vigil in Columbus too, but Calgary’s the city I’m connected to.

So I sat for a minute, and thought about it; the absolute polar opposite of emotions being felt by two fanbases thousands of miles apart.

Thousands and thousands showed up at the Saddledome to honour Johnny Hockey, who was tragically killed along with his brother Matthew a week ago today. They’re all looking for answers and closure.

My best advice is this: don’t expect to get over it because you never will. The best you can do, is to try to live with it.

That’s today’s Rod Pedersen Commentary.

(The Rod Pedersen Show airs daily at 12 pm & 4 pm ET on Game+TV, WQEE Radio, Podcast & YouTube Live)