Before Bill Ranford ever played an NHL game, before he won two Stanley Cups with the Edmonton Oilers, before he retired to spend more time with his young kids or re-entered the bigs to be the Los Angeles Kings goaltending coach, he played junior hockey for the New Westminster Bruins.

The Bruins no longer play in the Royal City, but Ranford married a girl from New West and settled here. He’s brought the Cup to New West before, but this is the first time he’s done so as part of management. Milla and I posed with the Cup as part of the fundraiser Ranford threw for a local alternate school, where he coaches youth to help them overcome a variety of social, familial and personal difficulties.And sure, it’s just a trophy. But the place was abuzz with fans. Kings fans, Oilers fans, even (begrudgingly) Canucks fans. For this one Monday afternoon, fans of all stripes gathered and celebrated hockey. It was a truly community event.It’s a sad, sad fact that if Gary Bettman has his way, no one will be able to celebrate like this next summer.

 

Closer look? Here you go: