Paul Maurice, head coach of the Florida Panthers, did not hide his joy at finally being able to lift the Stanley Cup.
Thanks to his team’s 2-1 victory over the Edmonton Oilers in Game 7 of the Grand Final, Maurice won the first Cup after nearly 30 years of coaching in the National Hockey League.
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“I wanted to feel it, more than see it,” he declared in an interview with Renaud Lavoie on TVA Sports. You can forget a lot of things about tonight, but I will never forget the weight that is put on and taken off your shoulders [en soulevant le trophée].”
Moreover, the 57-year-old man did not want to forget his parents, including his father who is a great admirer of former legends of the Montreal Canadiens.
“My father was born in Montreal, and he grew up without a father,” Maurice continued. His heroes were hockey men. Jean Béliveau was my father’s hero, and Maurice Richard [aussi]. […] So the best thing about it is that my dad’s name is with his heroes tonight.”
The full interview can be seen in the main video.