'Ultimate dream': Desjardins brings home Stanley Cup

Chicago Blackhawks forward Andrew Desjardins said he realized his childhood dream Monday when he brought the Stanley Cup to his hometown of Lively.

“I was so excited to bring the cup back to Lively,” Desjardins told an enthusiastic crowd that gathered to see him at the Sixth Avenue Playground in Lively.

“I think that was the ultimate dream. Hoisting (the cup) up after the victory was special, but I said to myself, 'This is really going to sink in when I get to share it with everybody in the community.'”

Crowds gathered around the T.M. Davies Arena to get a glimpse of Desjardins with the biggest prize in professional hockey.

“It's nice top pay tribute to Andrew because he's a really good guy,” said Dave White, whose son grew up with Desjardins. “He's a hard worker and has dedicated himself to his passion.”

Like many others in Lively, White watched Desjardins develop throughout his hockey career, from his beginnings with the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds to his time with the American Hockey League's Worcester Sharks, and later the NHL's San Jose Sharks, before getting traded to the Blackhawks in 2015-2015 season.

While other hockey players from Greater Sudbury have hoisted the Stanley Cup, Desjardins is the first from Lively.

Desjardins' childhood friend Jed Warkus said it was still unbelievable to see him with the Stanley Cup in Lively. “We're pretty proud of him,” he said.

Warkus and a small group of Desjardins' close friends went to Chicago to see him play during the playoffs. “We tried to stay away from him to keep him focused,” he said.

That focus paid off with a homecoming fit for royalty.