The Chicago Blackhawks are Stanley Cup champions for the second time in four years, but for some players it was their first chance to get their hands on the cup and Michal Rozsival brought it home this summer to his homeland in the Czech Republic.
According to NHL.com, the former Phoenix Coyotes and New York Rangers defenseman brought the championship trophy to his hometown in Vlašim and shared his experiences with reporters and people in the town. Rozsival has played in nearly 800 NHL games in his career with Coyotes, Penguins and Rangers and he previously made it to the Western conference finals in 2012 with the Coyotes before losing to the Los Angeles Kings, who went on to win the Cup.
Rozsival signed with the Blackhawks in July and he said he is focused on trying to win the Cup again, but that he is happy that he can say he has won one in his career now. The report says that Rozsival brought the trophy to him home near Prague and he also participated in an "official celebration" that saw more than 3,000 people show up. The Stanley Cup has been making an international tour this summer and after Rozsival it will head to Slovakia, where both Michal Handzus and Marian Hossa are from. The Cup still has travels to Sweden as well for Johnny Oduya, Niklas Hjalmarsson, Marcus Kruger and Viktor Stalberg, following the tradition of allowing all players to spend time with the Cup.
"I am a veteran, so I am very glad I've reached this achievement. If I do not win the Cup again, I can still say, 'Well, I have it,'" said Rozsival. "To win it this year does not mean my motivation for next season will be lower. You always want to win. Once you taste this sweet fruit, you start loving it and you want to get more."