Florida Panthers Win Stanley Cup: Russian Gamers Rejoice with Group and Flag

It isn’t customary now to say the affect of Russian sports activities in some international international locations, and there’s no want to speak about any enthusiasm. That’s the reason it’s troublesome to think about a Russian athlete calmly showing in entrance of a crowd of People with the flag of his nation. And in case you add that the viewers is singing the title of the hero and they’re prepared to hold him of their arms, this case seems nice.

However no, this isn’t fiction, however the actuality of the summer time of 2024. The winner of the Stanley Cup could have the chance of a public ceremony with the tricolor on his shoulders.

“Figuring out the principle impact”

June 24″Florida Panthers“Beat the Edmonton Oilers with a rating of two:1 within the seventh recreation of the ultimate collection of the Stanley Cup and reached the distinguished award for the primary time. Three Russians performed for the champions: Sergei Bobrovsky, Dmitry Kulikov and Vladimir Tarasenko. And if these hockey gamers will not be there for the Worldwide Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) (within the word concerning the victory of the Panthers, the group ignored our athletes), then for the American followers they’re true heroes.

One of many most important creators of Florida’s victory, Sergei Bobrovsky, gave a speech to the followers wherein he minimize up his five-year profession with the group. The world champion and two-time Vezina Trophy winner needed to ask the group to remain calm, after which he admitted one thing.

– On July 1, 2019, I turned a Florida participant. Within the first interview I used to be requested why I got here to this group. I stated, “As a result of I wish to win a Stanley Cup and I wish to do it with Florida.” And now, 5 years later, we’re celebrating the principle victory within the membership’s historical past,” stated Bobrovsky on the ceremony.

Regular habits

Bobrovsky raised the cup above his head, and the People chanted the nickname “Bobby!”, applauding and having fun with the glad second. Somebody even despatched a jersey from Sergei’s native Novokuznetsk Metallurg, which didn’t come from anyplace within the sunny state. It might appear that the followers’ response to the participant’s speech was fairly regular, however there was nonetheless one uncommon second.

Sergei appeared earlier than the general public, dragging the Russian flag over his shoulder. The identical flag that the IOC and worldwide sports activities federations, based mostly primarily in Europe, are so afraid of. In North America, the place Russophobia additionally thrives on the political degree, nobody bans our tricolor. UFC fighters can simply take it with them; nobody is in opposition to the looks of Russian nationwide symbols amongst NHL stars.

Odd sports activities followers from the USA don’t see any drawback with the truth that certainly one of their favourite issues seems in public with the Russian flag. A few of them introduced the tricolor into the stands within the Stanley Cup Finals. A paradox? No, it is utterly regular habits of first rate followers who respect their favourite group’s athletes. Paradoxical is the habits of sports activities officers near the Olympics, which, regardless of a number of actual issues in sub-groups, virtually see the principle job because the battle in opposition to the nationwide symbols of Russia.