Willie Mitchell, the former Wild defenseman (2001-06) got a little overwhelmed when the Kings won the Stanley Cup. Mitchell, 35, finally got to make the skate around the ice with teammates, each taking a turn with the trophy.
But he forgot part of the ritual, according to this story from Los Angeles Times reporter Lisa Dillman, whose father was the director of media for the Minnesota North Stars years ago.
Dillman writes: "I was thinking about my family, my wife and my friends -- and how they supported me on this journey. To be honest, I was looking up for them and showing it off because I knew where they were sitting, and then I forgot to kiss the thing. So get that thing back here somehow because everyone else is kissing it and I forgot."
If it didn't happen in the wee hours of Tuesday morning, Mitchell will get that chance this summer when he gets possession of the Cup for a day. He'll be bringing it to Port McNeill, British Columbia, which is located on Vancouver Island and has a population of about 2,600. He made his plans clear during another postgame interview, which brought joy throughout the small town.
"We're vibrating up here right now . . . it's awesome," said Tassos Baroutis, owner of Gus's Pub, told a reporter from the Victoria Times-Colonist. "The pub was packed and it just erupted when Willie held up the Cup."
Here's the rest of the Port McNeill goes wild (not Wild) story, as reported by the Times-Colonist.
