A former Windsor Spitfire said he can't wait to give back to the community that supported him over the years.
Steve Ott, who played his junior hockey career with the Spitfires before heading to the NHL, will be bringing the Stanley Cup home to Lakeshore this weekend. He stopped by the WFCU Centre on Thursday to discuss his career and the Cup appearance with the media.
Traditionally, all members of the winning team's organization, from players and coaches to support staff and scouts, are given one day with the Cup. Ott, an assistant coach with the champion St. Louis Blues, is using his day with the Cup to hold a public viewing Sunday at the Atlas Tube Centre.
Ott was born in Prince Edward Island but he grew up in Stoney Point. He told reporters that the one thing he looking forward to is thanking the community for having his back, by showing off the most famous trophy in professional sports.
"I know these people deserve it," said Ott. "They've stuck behind me. I've had so many people come up to me over the last month since returning home with a lot of congratulations. I'm just so excited for them to see the presence of this trophy, to touch it, to take pictures with it."
Ott, 36, went up through the Belle River [now Lakeshore] Canadiens before joining the Spitfires. He played with the Spits from 1999 to 2002. He was one of three Spitfire alumni wearing #14 who had the number retired. His banner hangs at the WFCU Centre along with Ed Jovanovski and Adam Henrique, who also wore #14.
With the buzz over Sunday's event ringing in his ears, Ott said he expects to be emotional when he brings the Cup into the Atlas Tube Centre.
"To see all the people with all the support that's going to happen on Sunday, it really is something special," said Ott. "I'm really looking forward to it. I hope people enjoy it as much as I do. The Stanley Cup is a celebrity all by itself, so I can't wait to see everybody's faces light up when I get to bring it in."
The Cup will be in the Rock Development Rink beginning at 11:30 a.m. Sunday, with the first 45 minutes of the viewing set aside for private photos taken with area junior and minor hockey teams. The public will then have its chance to see the Cup from 12:15 p.m. to 2:15 p.m.
The Stanley Cup on display at the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto (Photo by Aude via Wikipedia)