Florida Panthers’ Steven Lorentz brings the Stanley Cup back to Waterloo
Lord Stanley’s Cup has made its return to Waterloo Region.
Florida Panthers centre Steven Lorentz arrived on Thursday with the Cup at RIM Park in Waterloo to hundreds of eager fans waiting to get pictures. Lorentz started his hockey career in Waterloo when he played with the Waterloo Wolves and briefly with the Waterloo Siskins.
“I have fond memories playing here from the time I was five or six years old, coming to 6 a.m. practices out here at RIM,” Lorentz said. “It’s good to be home and to share this with the community that I love.”
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He was drafted into the OHL by the Peterborough Petes in 2012, and then into the NHL by the Carolina Hurricanes in 2015. He spent one season with the San Jose Sharks before signing with the Florida Panthers last July. He said the best advice he has for kids who are playing hockey in Waterloo is “don’t give up, work hard and have fun.”
“I don’t do it because of money or playing in the NHL, it’s because I love playing hockey,” said Lorentz. “I’m the luckiest kid in the world because I get to do that for a living.”
Waterloo Ward 3 councillor, and former Waterloo Hockey president, Hans Roach said he got to watch Lorentz play from when he first started. He described him as “selfless,” noting how he would come back to help the U18 team with tryouts and teaching new Canadians how to play road hockey.
“Steve has been right by my side,” Roach said, “he’s a fantastic guy.”
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Karon Lorentz, Steven’s mom, said Thursday’s celebration was “amazing and lauded the support from the community.”
“It’s a huge hockey town, so the kids want to see this, they love to see it and they love the game,” she said. “That’s what it’s all about.”
Lorentz started the day with the Cup by making an appearance at Grand River Hospital Regional Cancer Centre before going to RIM Park.
This is the second year in a row the Stanley Cup has made an appearance in Waterloo Region. Last August, Nic Hague of the Las Vegas Golden Knights brought the cup to Kitchener following Vegas’ Stanley Cup victory over the Florida Panthers.
