The Stanley Cup is currently enjoying some time overseas. Over the past several weeks, the historic trophy has cris-crossed North America while members of the Florida Panthers have enjoyed their special days with Lord Stanley’s Cup. It’s gone to South Florida and Nova Scotia and Texas and Wisconsin and Quebec and St. Louis, and those are only a few of the stops it’s made so far. But now we’re taking things up a notch. The Stanley Cup is going intercontinental, taking a cross-Atlantic flight and making its first stop to Scandinavia for some fun time in Sweden with Panthers forward Jesper Boqvist. On Tuesday, Boqvist brough the Cup to his hometown of Hedemora. It’s where he grew up playing hockey with his brother Adam, and where their parents still live. Despite a delay due to the Cup being caught up in customs [https://www.nhl.com/news/topic/short-shifts/jesper-boqvist-takes-stanley-cup-to-hometown-in-sweden], a massive crowd that gathered at Sveaparken Park was thrilled when Boqvist finally stood before them, raising the trophy triumphantly over his head. “As a fan, you don’t see (the Stanley Cup) that often, so to bring it home, where I grew up, it’s been so cool,” Boqvist said. “It’s a special moment, for sure.” During the visit, Boqvist was honored by his former youth club, Hedemora SK, and even stopped by Hemkop Arena, where he played hockey as a youngster. Spending time revisiting his hockey roots while celebrating a Stanley Cup victory provided Boqvist a unique blend of nostalgia and pride. Coming from a community so far away from the NHL, it didn’t escape Boqvist that he may be providing the same kind of inspiration that he once felt as a child. “Growing up, you always have those role models, your heroes,” he said. “For me, bringing (the Stanley Cup) back, hopefully I can be someone’s hero. To see a kid be that happy to be close to it and touch it, it’s special. I’m very thankful to have the opportunity to do that.” Boqvist played 78 games during his first season with the Panthers, racking up 12 goals, three of which were game-winners, and 23 points while adding another two goals and five points in 13 playoff games. Back in March, Florida was so pleased with what they’d seen from Boqvist that they signed him to a two-year extension that carries a $1.5 million AAV (average annual value), which is twice the AAV that he was signed for the previous summer ($775K). “Winning, being in the locker room, having the parade and all that has been pretty crazy and something you hope for, but never know if its going to happen,” he said. “Being a part of that has been special, and with our group too, it’s been unreal.” You can check out footage from Boqvist's day with the Cup in the video below: LATEST STORIES FROM THE HOCKEY NEWS - FLORIDA Florida tan: Panthers name engraved onto Prince of Wales Trophy for third straight season [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/florida-panthers/latest-news/florida-tan-panthers-name-engraved-onto-prince-of-wales-trophy-for-third-straight-season] Matthew Tkachuk featured on cover of NHL 26, first Panthers player selected since John Vanbiesbrouck [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/florida-panthers/latest-news/matthew-tkachuk-featured-on-cover-of-nhl-26-first-panthers-player-selected-since-john-vanbiesbrouck] Would Panthers' Aleksander Barkov Need to Reach 100 Points To Receive Hart Trophy Consideration? [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/florida-panthers/players/would-panthers-aleksander-barkov-need-to-reach-100-points-to-receive-hart-trophy-consideration] Newton native Mackie Samoskevich brings Stanley Cup to Sandy Hook Memorial during hometown visit [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/florida-panthers/latest-news/newton-native-mackie-samoskevich-brings-stanley-cup-to-sandy-hook-memorial-during-hometown-visit] Pair Of Former Panthers Defenseman Invited To Canada's Olympic Orientation Camp [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/florida-panthers/latest-news/pair-of-former-panthers-defenseman-invited-to-canada-s-olympic-orientation-camp] Photo caption: Panthers forward Jesper Boqvist shares the Stanley Cup with hockey fans in his hometown of Hedemora, Sweden. (Florida Panthers)
