Paul Maurice was once the last player picked in the NHL draft. An afterthought, almost. He never made it to the league as a player. And there were many times when he wondered if his name would ever be on the Stanley Cup. Wonder no more.
Florida Panthers coach Paul Maurice yells after a Panthers goal was disallowed for offsides, during the second period against the Edmonton Oilers in Game 6 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Final, Friday, June 21, 2024, in Edmonton, Alberta. Florida Panthers head coach Paul Maurice speaks to media in Edmonton, Alberta Friday June 14, 2024. The Panthers take on the Edmonton Oilers in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup hockey finals Saturday.
And let’s face it, had the Panthers not won Monday night and blown a 3-0 lead in the title series, it would have followed Maurice around forever. But now, whenever his career ends, they’ll have to call him a champion coach. The glaring hole has been filled. The memories, for him, go back to around the age of 5 growing up in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, 350 miles or so north of Detroit. They got three channels at his house: a French channel, CBC and WKBD out of Detroit. Saturday nights in season were hockey nights; they were either playing or skating or watching, without fail.
“They used to play street hockey sometimes in the tennis courts across the street from my house,” Maurice said. “My mom and dad still live there today. So, that was where it became the dream.”
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