Cleary brings Stanley Cup to Newfoundland

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ST. JOHN'S, N.L. -- Dan Cleary believes it was his duty to bringthe Stanley Cup home.
And Monday, before hundreds of fans and scores of media gathered atthe St. John's International Airport, the Harbour Grace, N.L.,native and Detroit Red Wings Stanley Cup champion did just that.
"Any time you win the Cup, you bring it back to your roots. Youdon't forget where you came from," he said to cheers. "Not onlythat, this isn't Toronto, this isn't British Columbia. The Cup hasnever been to Newfoundland."
Hockey's most sacred silverware has been in the province beforewhile on national tour and was even in Labrador earlier this yearfor a junior tournament. But of the 26 Newfoundlanders andLabradorians to lace up skates in the NHL, Cleary will be the onlyone with a championship ring.
Cleary, accompanied by his wife Jelena and daughter Elle, alongwith other family and close friends, hoisted the hallowed trophyover his head as he made his way down to the airport lobby toaddress the raucous crowd.
"The province of Newfoundland is a beautiful province with greatpeople who deserve a Stanley Cup and they've got it now," Clearytold the media. "No one can take it away from us."
Amongst the throng of supporters was the Hynes family - Dean, hiswife Michelle, and their children Carter, 7, Chad, 5, and Jane, 3 -each decked out in several pieces of Red Wings swag.
A lifelong Red Wings fan, Hynes said this win is even moreenjoyable than the 1996-97 championship, the Red Wings' first in 42years.
"After so many years of following them, that was a big deal at thetime. But this one was definitely special."
During the ceremony, St. John's Telegram publisher Charlie Stacey presented Cleary with a commemorativeplaque mount of the paper's front page of the June 5, 2008 editionshowing a victorious Cleary hoisting hockey's holy grail inPittsburgh.
The Telegram has been inundated with requests for prints of thepage.
Local artist Derek Button also presented Cleary with an originalwork depicting scenes of him during the Wings' playoff push.
Following the airport celebrations, Cleary and his entourage madetheir way to the Janeway Children's Hospital - a place Clearyadmitted was "the highlight of the whole trip."
"The Janeway is going to be the best experience the two days aregoing to bring," Cleary, who is father to toddler Elle, saidearlier. "These kids might not be feeling great but I'm hoping theCup cheers them up for that one special moment, and that's reallywhat it's all about."
One such child was Ben Newhook of St. John's. The 10-year-old wasadmitted to the Janeway after a cut on his knee became infected.But Newhook, clutching his autographed Cleary photo, consideredhimself lucky to be in hospital on such a great day.
"I'm just happy I got to see him and the Stanley Cup. I'm happythat he was there to say hi to the other kids. It's justfantastic," Newhook said.
While Monday was a whirlwind day for Cleary and his clan, thecelebrations are only just beginning. On Tuesday, his hometown ofHarbour Grace will be awash in a sea of red and white as the towncelebrates both Canada Day and Cleary's homecoming.