PORCUPINE PLAIN — People from all over the region came to Porcupine Plain to see hockey’s holy grail – and the man who brought it there.
Kelly Chase, originally from Porcupine Plain, brought the Stanley Cup to his hometown on Oct. 24. He played for the NHL between 1988 and 2000 and was on teams like the St. Louis Blues, Hartford Whalers and Toronto Maple Leafs.
After retirement he stuck with the sport, and in 2019, as a member of the St. Louis Blues, he was part of their championship team as a broadcaster and sponsorship and marketing with the management side.
This is where he had his chance to finally hold the Cup, something Chase said he wanted to do since starting hockey.
“It’s weird because you think when you’re growing up you want to play in the NHL. But what you don’t realize is what you really want is to win the Stanley Cup. When you do it, it’s like 10,000 pounds off your back,” Chase said. “I was just part of the team, 23 young men were able to help me achieve a goal, be a part of a championship team at the NHL.”
While Chase said this has been a dream come true, it wasn’t the path he thought he would take.
“Obviously to win it as a player is what your goal is to be able to carry it on the ice, and have it on your head. The things you dreamt about on the ice since you were a kid is skating down the ice with the Stanley Cup. Unfortunately that wasn’t the path that I got but it took me a long time to win the ring and carry the trophy and I’m grateful I got to do it.”
Pictures with the Stanley Cup were charged at a fee, as a fundraiser to replace the community arena’s boiler – a project which has a goal of $20,000. For this fundraiser Chase worked with Porcupine Plain resident and family friend Craig Kriger.
“I brought the Cup home, and we may be able to monetize it because communities in our area, that’s our culture, that’s where we spend our winters. That’s a big part of the community,” Chase said.
When asked how growing up Porcupine Plain influenced where he is today, he said that it wasn’t the place but the people in it.
“The people here have made you, sculpted you into the person you are so you have that obligation when you play in the NHL to give back, this is a part of my obligations.”
When asked how it feels to have his name and face shown on a billboard coming into town, he said it’s an honour.
“I don’t even really think about it, it’s an honour. You just grew up here and try to do the right things and for them to… I’m proud [of] where I’m from, and the fact that the people are proud that I’m from here means a lot to me.”
