Winning the Stanley Cup couldn’t have happened to a nicer guy.
Last Wednesday, Thunder Bay’s Patrick Sharp hoisted the trophy, taking it from Marian Hossa and planting his lips firmly on Lord Stanley’s Mug before passing it along.
Always accommodating, the 28-year-old was an integral part of the championship, the first since 1961 when Bobby Hull, Stan Mikita and Glenn Hall backboned the Hawks to a title.
Sharp, who could be traded this summer to offset salary cap restraints, finished third in playoff scoring with 11 goals, fifth in points with 22.
He was on the ice when Patrick Kane scored from an improbable angle in overtime, one of the first to leap on Kane’s back in a celebratory outburst that brought a city to its knees.
Sharp has promised to bring the Cup home to Thunder Bay this summer, and told NHL.com on Sunday that at that point he’d had about six hours sleep since winning the trophy.
He and his teammates have been parading it about the Windy City for days, and the feeling never gets old, he said.
“As soon as that silver Cup comes in the room, it’s just the best thing ever,” he said. “Everyone flocks to it. That’s probably the best memory I’ll have, just seeing everyone’s face light up when that thing comes in.”
Passed over for the Olympics, Patrick showed he’s truly a champion anyway.
Last Wednesday, Thunder Bay’s Patrick Sharp hoisted the trophy, taking it from Marian Hossa and planting his lips firmly on Lord Stanley’s Mug before passing it along.
Always accommodating, the 28-year-old was an integral part of the championship, the first since 1961 when Bobby Hull, Stan Mikita and Glenn Hall backboned the Hawks to a title.
Sharp, who could be traded this summer to offset salary cap restraints, finished third in playoff scoring with 11 goals, fifth in points with 22.
He was on the ice when Patrick Kane scored from an improbable angle in overtime, one of the first to leap on Kane’s back in a celebratory outburst that brought a city to its knees.
Sharp has promised to bring the Cup home to Thunder Bay this summer, and told NHL.com on Sunday that at that point he’d had about six hours sleep since winning the trophy.
He and his teammates have been parading it about the Windy City for days, and the feeling never gets old, he said.
“As soon as that silver Cup comes in the room, it’s just the best thing ever,” he said. “Everyone flocks to it. That’s probably the best memory I’ll have, just seeing everyone’s face light up when that thing comes in.”
Passed over for the Olympics, Patrick showed he’s truly a champion anyway.
