Chronicles of Stanley: Crosby, Cup conquer Cole Harbour

The Chronicles of Stanley is an occasional series this summer that tracks the Pittsburgh Penguins as they each get their special alone time with the Stanley Cup.

Every time the winning captain gets his day with the Stanley Cup it is a special occasion. When Sidney Crosby is said captain it’s pretty much a province-wide holiday in Nova Scotia.

Who else would get a personal escort by Mounties, but the forward and savior of the Penguins?

Another shot from the #stanleycup parade today in Cole Harbour. @penguins @NHL @HockeyHallFame pic.twitter.com/PDblwY4FJ1

— Philip Pritchard (@keeperofthecup) July 16, 2016

Sid’s weekend with the Cup started on Friday, July 15 in the captain’s hometown of Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia.

Crosby picked up Stanley from the airport. He sets a good example for everyone by belting the chalice into the passenger seat of his car.

Safety first. @penguins captain buckles up the #stanleycup heading to Cole Harbour. @NHL @HockeyHallFame pic.twitter.com/kUnMVLWg03

— Philip Pritchard (@keeperofthecup) July 15, 2016

He proceeded with his morning routine as if it was just another day. Stanley and Sidney made their way into a local Tim Hortons to surprise workers and those enjoying their Timbits.

Sidney Crosby made a random stop at Tim Hortons in Cole Harbour #halifax @TrendsHalifax @haligonia pic.twitter.com/wJtIsra98L

— KennyO (@Gokennygogo) July 15, 2016

The forward had another surprise in mind, this time for the campers of his namesake hockey school who had been working with their idol on and off all week.

Best hockey school ever.

Read more: https://t.co/FRXRF5QwQ0 https://t.co/ivuAbt3nYT

— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) July 15, 2016

From the Penguins:

Pens captain Sidney Crosby was asked about the Stanley Cup a few times by campers attending his second annual hockey school, which took place this week at his hometown rink of Cole Harbour Place.

He told them it coming to town on Saturday, which is when there will be a big celebration – including a parade – going on in the city to commemorate the Pens’ championship.

“I said it was coming tomorrow,” Crosby said with a grin. “Everybody knows there’s something going on in Cole Harbour tomorrow

What they didn’t know was that Crosby had actually planned all along to surprise the kids with Lord Stanley’s silver chalice, scheduling his time with the Cup to coincide with their last day of camp.

“It’s going to be fun to see the looks on their faces when we arrive,” Crosby said on the drive over to the rink.

And it was certainly priceless to see the kids’ reactions once they realized what was happening.

It’s the kids that remind you just how special this trophy is. Check out a few snapshots from the camp and the looks on the kids faces.

#87 brought a friend to pose for pictures with the kids at the @87HockeySchool pic.twitter.com/YAZXhTmuF4

— Gord Miller (@GMillerTSN) July 15, 2016

Sidney Crosby’s Hockey School just got even more exciting. ???? pic.twitter.com/NYEEO2ddTp

— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) July 15, 2016

Best Week of His Life#PrescotOnCloudNine @87HockeySchool pic.twitter.com/uArJkCvOSB

— Theresa Weber-Sexton (@tmpl2602) July 15, 2016

He followed it up with more surprise visits. First to a children’s hospital and then the Camp Hill Veterans Memorial Building in Halifax to make the day of senior citizens in residence.

After an event filled Friday, the superstar held court for the main event on Saturday.

According to Google, in 2011 the population of Cole Harbour was approximately 25,161. Dan Rosen of NHL.com reported nearly 30,000 people came to the parade held for Crosby and Lord Stanley.

Sidney Crosby: “I think this time around, I appreciate it more, and appreciate sights like this.”https://t.co/YQPPOpRPmI

— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) July 16, 2016

He followed up the parade by having a Q&A with Gord Miller from TSN.

One of the first people to take the mic was 84-year-old soon-to-be retired municipal councillor Gloria McCluskey.

From CBC News:

“Sidney, you gave me some nervous moments this winter. I never missed one game. I hope you feel the love here today. Cole Harbour is your hometown, but we all claim you, Sidney,” [McCluskey] said. McCluskey also proposed renaming Cole Harbour Place for Sidney Crosby.

It’s not the first time Cole Harbour has considered renaming an area for its famous son. City council is mulling over renaming a local street, Forest Hills Parkway, for Crosby as well.

If he wins another Cup, we say go all in and change the name of the city to Crosby Harbour, Nova Scotia.

The love from his hometown knows no bounds. It appears the love it mutual from the superstar who sees himself as ‘still a guy from Cole Harbour.’

Sidney was nearly everywhere one could possibly be in and around the city over the weekend. As he told the Penguins website, he hadn’t slept much in these hectic two days, but wasn’t worried about it.

“I think you run on adrenaline for two days when you have it and I wasn’t going to try and save myself for today,” Crosby said with a smile. “I was going to get every hour I could with the Cup. It’s going to be moving on tonight, so just got to soak up everything.”

No word if he took a nap with the Cup like last time.