Shaunavon is home to arguably the greatest female hockey player to grab a stick and to one of Canada’s up and coming country music stars. But now, it is home to a Stanley Cup champion too.
Braydon Coburn joins Hayley Wickenheiser and The Hunter Brothers as those to put the southwestern Saskatchewan town on the map after the Tampa Bay Lightning defenceman won the Stanley Cup.
The 35-year-old was one of the first members of the Lightning to get the Cup when it was awarded Monday night after a win over Dallas.
Shaunavon Mayor Grant Greenslade says the entire family is one that is important to his town.
“The family is very active in the community,” shared Greensdale. “Tyson, his brother, sits on our town council. Greg is very active in the minor hockey program. It’s just a great thing to happen to a family that gives back to the community.”
Greenslade doesn’t know with COVID-19 when Coburn will be coming to Shaunavon, but plans for a celebration will be made.
As it stands right now, the Stanley Cup isn’t going to have the tour with players that it usually does because of COVID-19. But Greenslade is hoping somehow and some way that hockey’s holy grail can return to the town.
“It would be such an honour to have the Cup come to the community. It would be such a sense of pride for Brayden and our entire community,” added Greenslade.
“Kids in town look up to Brayden as a role model, and this would just be the icing on the cake for all the kids that want a career in the NHL.”
It was there in 2003 when Hockey Day in Canada originated from Shaunavon.
