Former Kootenay Ice star Sam Reinhart is a Stanley Cup Champion after the Florida Panthers beat the Edmonton Oilers and former Ice head coach Kris Knoblauch.
The Panthers won the first three games of the final but ended up losing three straight as the Oilers forced a Game 7.
The final game was a close 2-1 victory with Reinhart scoring the series-clinching goal.
“I’m never going to forget these past 10-12 days,” he said while celebrating on the ice.
“It was the longest 12 days for us mentally and physically. We give them all the credit in the world to be able to battle back, but it’s been mentally draining I’m not going to lie.”
Knoblauch was disappointed with the result but is immensely proud of his team for coming back and making it a close series.
“It hurts. It’s more painful but I definitely wouldn’t have liked to lose in four straight,” he said.
“I liked how our team responded and pushed. They were so close, but yeah we lost to a good team.”
Reinhart finished this year’s playoffs with 10 goals and 6 assists in 24 games.
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