ST. LOUIS — There's just something about the Stanley Cup. It has an aura that brings out emotions in people. That aura was in St. Louis on Thursday.
Florida Panthers star and St. Louis native Matthew Tkachuk brought the Cup back to his hometown for his day with the trophy as a champion.
After some family celebrations that included a stop at OB Clark's Wednesday night, Tkachuk and the Cup were at St. Louis Children's Hospital bright and early, bringing some smiles.
"It's amazing. To me it's all about their smile," Tkachuk said. "They go through stuff I never could imagine. Their spirits and their reaction and smile is what it's all about. It's absolutely priceless. This trophy here is a very magical thing, and that does it for people. To me, that's the most important thing, seeing how happy they are. Even if it's just for a couple minutes of their day when they're having tough days, to remember this."
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The Tkachuk family has obvious ties to the gateway city. Matthew's dad, Keith, is a St. Louis Blues Hall of Famer. Matthew, his brother Brady and his sister Taryn all went to school in St. Louis.
And those St. Louis roots run deep.
"All the qualities of not just a hockey player, but a person have been brought up as a St. Louis person. The qualities of a Midwest kid have really been established in me from a young age.," he said. "I was born in Arizona but grew up in St. Louis. All my roots and everything has been brought up from St. Louis and it's such a special place.
"When I found out the support for myself during the Stanley Cup and the playoffs with the Blues being out, and everybody from St. Louis jumping on to support me and my team, that meant so much to me. And I've dreamt of this day my entire life, being able to bring the Cup back to St. Louis and celebrating it with everyone that's gotten me to where I am. It has been an incredible time."
It's been a whirlwind for Tkachuk since claiming the Cup with the Panthers in late June.
Tkachuk and his Panthers teammates have taken the Stanley Cup on quite the trip in the weeks since winning it back in late June. The Cup even went for a dip in the ocean, courtesy of Tkachuk.
"I did not know that wasn't allowed I promise you. It was the day after I won, I still hadn't slept at that point. It was just me and a few teammates, we had nobody with us to say, 'Matthew don't be an idiot. Don't do that.' I thought It was fitting... If I knew I wasn't supposed to do it I wouldn't have done it, but it's also pretty funny," Tkachuk said, "My brother (Brady) was like, 'The ocean's right there, why don't you go take it in there.' And I'm like, 'That's a great idea. Let's do that.'"
As far as his day in St. Louis goes? Tkachuk planned to take the Cup to the firehouse and police department, along with some more celebrations with family, friends and local businesses.
He did get a fun wake-up call Thursday morning as well.
"They (The keepers of the Cup) surprised me and rang the doorbell, I thought it was going to be them. So they rang it, and then ding-dong-ditched me a little bit, and it was just the Cup waiting there. I was like, 'Wow, good to see you too. Good morning,'" Tkachuk said.