MOSCOW -- A piece of hockey history was in our area on Tuesday. As tradition states, the Stanley Cup spends a day with every member of the winning organization. This was the day the Pittsburgh Penguins' trainer took the Stanley Cup back to where it all began for him.
Patrick Steidle has walked the field at North Pocono Middle School many times but it's been many years, and now he's back with a shiny new accessory.
"It's nice to win something and, you know, bring it back to this area a little bit and share it with where I grew up," said Steidle.
Steidle is the rightful owner of the National Hockey League's Stanley Cup for approximately 24 hours.
He's the physical trainer for the Pittsburgh Penguins.
The cup has been traveling with a member of the organization since the team won the cup back in June. Two weeks ago, it was in Moscow, Russia. Now, it's in Moscow borough, Lackawanna County.
A few North Pocono students and fellow hockey fans got to skip class to see the piece of hockey history.
"(It means) everything. It's awesome," said seventh-grader Jonah Yurkanin.
"It's amazing. It's so shiny. It's awesome that it's here right now," added seventh-grader Corbin Lankford.
But it was clear that teacher Dave Davis was most excited. His was an enthusiasm only true hockey fans could understand.
"I grew up in Canada, the wilds of northern Ontario, and in my wildest dreams, I never thought I'd see the Stanley Cup, especially here in northeastern Pennsylvania," said Davis. "So, when they told me there was a chance that it was going to be here, I said, 'Oh, my gosh, you've got to be kidding me.' I've been nervous and antsy all day long."
This Stanley Cup is one of three but is the one presented to the team during the Stanley Cup finals.
Steidle says he'll share it with family before sending it on its way.
"It's not just the Pittsburgh Penguins winning it, it's family winning it, the wives and kids and everything are a part of the family."
And by that logic, now northeastern Pennsylvania is part of hockey history.
