Stanley Cup on display with NHL great (story updated) (34 photos)

The Stanley Cup made a visit to Sault Ste. Marie on Friday evening and was on display at the West End Community Centre.

Fans lined up for the opportunity to get their picture with the hallowed trophy and many also had an opportunity to meet hockey great and former Saultite Phil Esposito.

The former Boston Bruin, who also spent time with the Chicago Blackhawks and New York Rangers, was on hand as well and took pictures with fans as well as signed autographs.

He later attended the open division championship game between Sault Ste. Marie’s Mr. Transmission and AK Bars 35 of Russia, won by the Russian club by a 4-1 score.

Esposito participated in the ceremonial pre-game puck drop.

During the game Esposito spoke of how impressed he was by the fan support for the tournament, which was better than CARHA tournament representatives had anticipated.

“I’m thrilled by the response of the people in Sault Ste. Marie to the CARHA tournament,” Esposito said of the fan support. “It’s unbelievable. I told (CARHA President Michael Peski) ‘You should make the Sault your permanent spot.’ People will start thinking and they’ll practice and more teams (will want to enter). Then you can be selective. Look what it’s done for the city. People are coming (to the games). There’s probably 5,000 people here.”

Esposito served as honorary chairperson for the tournament, which wraps up with closing ceremonies on Sunday.

The two-time Stanley Cup champion, said that coming back to Sault Ste. Marie takes little time to adjust.

“It only took me two days of being back to start talking (the way we used to),” Esposito joked.

After dropping the puck for the ceremonial face-off, Esposito spent the evening watching the game from the Soo Greyhounds suite surrounded by family and friends.

Esposito played parts of 18 seasons in the National Hockey League, amassing 717 goals and 1,590 points in 1,282 games, winning a pair of Stanley Cups with the Bruins in 1970 and 1972. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1984.

Photos by Donna Hopper