Boston Bruins President Cam Neely proud and happy for personal time with Stanley Cup –NHL News Update
Nearly everyone had the chance to spend time with the most coveted prize in the hockey world, the Stanley Cup championship, after Boston Bruins claimed it during the 2011 National Hockey League (NHL) Stanley Cup Finals, everyone except for Team president,
Cam Neely, that is.
Boston Bruins captain, Zdeno Chara, along with a number of players like Milan Lucic all had private celebrations with Lord Stanley’s cup, expect for former NHL star and current Boston Bruins president Cam Neely, until Saturday.
After 13 seasons of playing in the NHL after being selected as the ninth overall player during round-one of the 1983 NHL Entry Draft by Vancouver, Neely never really had the chance of holding up the cup, up until now.
Neely might have it with him now at his hometown of Maple Ridge, British Columbia, Canada, but it still certainly might be difficult to imagine that something which he worked so hard for at one time, really is now his.
"Sometimes you have to pinch yourself and say, 'Oh my god, the Stanley Cup is right here' ", Neely said."It's pretty cool".
Coincidently, Neely at one point in his career, part of both teams that were currently facing off for a Stanley Cup championship. Being drafted by Vancouver, the Canadian team which was looking for its first cup in 40 years always had a soft spot in Neely’s
heart, being a team close-by home.
Nevertheless, it was Boston that Neely nor really cared about and Bruins it was all the way for him during the close, seven-game series. Now winning the cup as a team executive, Neely still considers it a job well done.
"When you play the sport, you hope to get in the NHL and once you get there you want to win the Cup as a player", Neely said. "I never had that opportunity, but like (Bruins' Assistant General Manager) Don Sweeney and I have said to each other, 'If you can't
win it in a uniform, it's nice to win it in a suit".
According to Neely, it does not matter whether he considers Maple Ridge, or Boston to be his home, because both have a special place in his heart which either cannot replace.
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