Returning to Winnipeg as Stanley Cup winner, Paul Maurice speaks fondly of nice hockey city

Florida Panthers Head Coach Paul Maurice is a well-liked man in Winnipeg.

Maurice coached the Winnipeg Jets for 9 years, from 2013 till 2021-22 season.

He joined the Panthers through the summer time of 2022, after leaving Winnipeg and stepping away from hockey, not sure of his future within the recreation.

The match between Maurice and the Panthers has been obvious from the start.

Nonetheless, the veteran coach has not forgotten his former crew and the blood, sweat and tears he poured into them.

It was clear that Maurice nonetheless had fairly a bit of affection for the Jets franchise when he gave them the final word shout out within the moments after Sport 7 of the Stanley Cup Closing.

After main the Panthers to their first championship again in June, Maurice famously mentioned, whereas standing on the ice at Amerant Financial institution Area mid-celebration, “If I might have one factor extra, it’d be for the Winnipeg Jets to win the following Stanley Cup.”

Nicely now right here we’re, almost 1 / 4 via the brand new NHL season, and who’s sitting atop the league standings?

Why, it’s the Winnipeg Jets!

Clearly the blessing from Maurice has had an unbelievable affect, because the Jets have reeled off victories in 15 of their 18 video games up to now this season, with the newest loss coming by the hands of Maurice and the Panthers on Saturday evening in Dawn.

Talking on Monday earlier than they left South Florida for Manitoba, Maurice mirrored on the wonderful individuals and general hockey group that made Winnipeg what it was.

“It is all of the individuals, and it is the connection to the game and the sport, and having had actually good groups, even not within the Nationwide Hockey League, within the World Hockey Affiliation, some actually essential gamers come via there too, so there’s a bond there,” Maurice mentioned. “It in all probability has to guide the league in out of doors rinks, I might assume. It is an actual factor, proper? It’s that linked to the sport. After which to have a crew and to lose a crew and get their crew again, there’s an understanding of how particular it’s to have an NHL crew in your city. So there is a connection to the sport there that I feel it’s cultural, nevertheless it’s additionally geographic. Lots of people spend lots of time outdoor enjoying hockey up there, and you may, proper? You are fairly positive you possibly can construct a rink yearly.”

For somebody who grew up with the sport of hockey and has devoted his life to the game, it’s clear Maurice genuinely appreciated his time in Winnipeg.

Between the followers, town and the crew’s historical past, he felt the significance of hockey whereas he was there.

It’s not misplaced on Maurice how particular and essential it’s for the present Winnipeg Jets to have the identical title and colours as the unique NHL crew.

For therefore many individuals up there, attending and watching these video games was like a spiritual expertise.

“I feel you meet lots of people up there that bear in mind these video games, that went to these video games,” Maurice mentioned. “My first 12 months, we performed within the (Winnipeg Area) with the massive image of the Queen on the finish. There are lots of people that it is generational, proper? It is the grandfather went to the video games, and now the nice grandson goes to the video games, in order that connection was fairly essential. Love the crest, proper? It is only a nice story of the roots of hockey in Canada.”

As for his return to Winnipeg, Maurice isn’t anticipating something particular.

This will likely be his third time there as Panthers head coach, and whereas its first time as a Stanley Cup winner, he isn’t on the lookout for any particular therapy.

A minimum of not from the followers.

“I do not know, perhaps simply you are humbled and would form of love to do it quietly for those who might,” Maurice mentioned. “It’s completely different the third time you are going again. Now I am excited to see my daughter, so that is what I am wanting ahead to on this journey.”

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