Photo: @keeperofthecup
After spending the weekend with the Capitals’ Mike Booi, Madison Bowey and Ross Mahoney, the Stanley Cup headed west to Lashburn, Saskatchewan, for a day with Capitals goalie Braden Holtby. (Reminder, you can find the latest schedule of dates for Capitals players “day with the Stanley Cup” right here.)
The Stanley Cup showed up in Marshall, Saskatchewan, late Monday evening ahead of Braden’s day with the Cup today. Holtby and his family posed for a few photos near the family farm in Marshall, Saskatchewan.
Photos: @keeperofthecup
Lashburn, the site of today’s public event, is located 22 miles east of Lloydminster (Braden’s hometown) on the Yellowhead Highway, on the banks of the Battle River. Founded in 1903, Lashburn is a mere 2,167 miles, or a 33-hour drive from Braden’s office in Washington, D.C. (lower right corner of map).
Lashburn Sports Complex, Lashburn, Saskatchewan
Folks lined up bright and early Tuesday morning at the Lashburn Sports Complex in Lashburn, Saskatchewan – population, 967. Braden played his youth hockey at the facility. Estimates at the end of the day had the total crowd in attendance at around 6,000.
Just a few people waiting to see the @holtbeast. #StanleyCup #ALLCAPS #Lashburn pic.twitter.com/JYgBu75UEx
— Tanja Hunter (@HunterTanja) July 31, 2018
Photos: @combinepilot44
The event ran from 9:00 a.m.to noon, local Lashburn time. Braden met with fans, posed for photos, signed autographs for those who were up early to meet the Vezina winner. Braden first met with the local youth team, the Lashburn Flyers, his old team, and took a picture with the team as well.
Lloydminster Animal Hospital
Following the public event in Lashburn, Braden and Stanley made a stop at the Lloydminster Animal Hospital.
Holtby Party, Sandy Beach, Saskatchewan
The Holtby family returned to Marshall after the public event in Lashburn and stop in Lloydminster for a private party at the Holtby farm. Below, Braden and son Benjamin show off their trophies.
Braden not only realized his own personal dream today, but he also made a few other dreams come true as well. Typical Holts.
Big shoutout to @Holts170 for making so many kids dreams come true today…especially my nephew! The town of Lashburn has likely never seen a line up like there was today, when the cup came to town! #StanleyCup #hometownhero @Capitals pic.twitter.com/U83K0TgQRW
— Deanna (@deannawandler) July 31, 2018
The following is a video interview with Holtby on his family farm in Marshall, conducted by the fine folks at Sportsnet back in June. It does a great job of capturing the hometown flavor. Highly recommended viewing.
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