VIDEO: Sault goes wild for Stanley Cup arrival

Saultites were lining up as early as 8 a.m. today outside GFL Memorial Gardens for the highly anticipated arrival of the Stanley Cup.

Born and raised in the Sault, local hockey star and Vegas Golden Knights forward Michael Amadio was joined by friends, family, and dignitaries as he entered the arena with the coveted trophy.

Waiting inside and outside the rink were upwards of 2,000 residents — all eager to get a photo with their hometown hockey hero alongside the Cup.

Speaking with SooToday prior to his grand entrance, Amadio says the day can only be described as full circle.

“I remember when Tyler Kennedy brought it here in 2009, and I was one of those kids out there,” he says. “To be able to do that today for everyone else in the community is an awesome feeling and something I’ll never forget.”

“Just driving in, I saw the whole lineup of people, and I heard they were lining up all morning so it’s awesome to see all that support.”

Mayor Matthew Shoemaker presented Amadio with the key to the city before the Sault hockey star lifted the Cup for fans inside the gardens.

Amadio says after he finishes signing autographs and taking pictures, he’ll be celebrating at home with his family for the rest of the day.

“I think it’s starting to sink in today,” he says. “It didn’t really feel real at first, but as time passes on each day, it starts to sink in a little bit more. It’s an amazing feeling.”

Amadio, 27, was a recent guest on Village Media’s Inside the Village podcast, where he reminisced about hoisting the Cup for the first time, a very special phone call he made from the ice — and what it was like to be a young hockey player growing up in the Sault.

You can watch the full interview HERE.