Jordan Martinook brings Stanley Cup to Leduc Recreation Centre after winning with Carolina Hurricanes

Jordan Martinook landed in Edmonton on Tuesday, August 11, and took a green Corvette to Leduc Recreation Centre, where over 1,000 fans waited to celebrate his Stanley Cup victory with the Carolina Hurricanes.

As Martinook stepped out of the car with Lord Stanley, he greeted event organizers with a grin: "You waiting for this thing or what?" Fans inside had already conducted the Hurricanes' storm surge celebration—clapping in unison—before his arrival. When he walked into the rec centre's ball hockey arena, the crowd erupted. They chanted his name as "Rock You Like a Hurricane" played in the background.

"It's like a culmination of your life of hard work and like something you dream about since you were a little kid, and being able to share it, bring it into the town you grew up in is so special," Martinook said.

He had two goals and three assists during the Hurricanes' Cup run. Martinook noted the hockey community in Leduc is tight-knit and bringing the trophy home made it even more meaningful.

"I grew up playing here. I worked out in this gym. I ran around this track," he said. "I've done everything in this building."

Seeing Leduc Roughnecks jerseys in the crowd brought back memories of his minor hockey days and his friends. "For my wedding, a bunch of my buddies got a Leduc Roughneck jersey and they all signed it, and it hangs in my basement at my house," Martinook said. "I said to my wife the other day, I was like maybe I should take it out of the case and wear it today."

Martinook flew from Winnipeg after celebrating with teammate Seth Jarvis. He said Leduc has supported him throughout his career, regardless of which team he played for—Arizona, Carolina, or anywhere else. "Everybody here supports me, and obviously this year they supported me a little more because it's a little more special this year," he said. "I'm just happy I could do this."