St. Andrews will be hosting a very special visitor in just over a week. Rather, make that two very special visitors.

Darren Helm will be in St. Andrews July 14 along with the Stanley Cup, the coveted trophy Helm and his Detroit Red Wing teammates captured after downing the Pittsburgh Penguins in six games last month. With each winning player having just 24 hours with the Cup, hockey’s holy grail will have a short, but extremely busy, trip to St. Andrews. “I think it’s great, a local boy who skated on the outdoor rink all the time and played minor hockey in St. Andrews and now he’s giving something back to the community,” said Darren Zembik, arena manager at the St. Andrews Community Club, adding he expects at least 2,000 fans to see Helm and the Cup. 

Winkler hosted Lord Stanley last year and attracted some 3,000 fans. “It’s huge for the kids and the elderly people. This is going to be a great event and hats off to Darren for thinking of St. Andrews and bringing it to the club. Time will be limited, but Darren wants to share it with the community and family members and close personal friends, so the day is going to be jam-packed,” Zembik added.

The Cup will be on display at the community club from 2-5 p.m. while Helm, the pride of St. Andrews, will be signing autographs on a stage inside the arena. As well, a barbecue, music, face painting and a visit from Mickey Moose will keep parents and kids entertained throughout the afternoon.

Meanwhile, Helm’s No. 43 Detroit jersey - autographed by members of the Red Wings - will be auctioned off. All proceeds from the event will go towards St. Andrews Community Club’s outdoor rink, as requested by Helm.
Zembik said Lord Stanley’s mug has been to St. Andrews before, ironically with the Detroit Red Wings back in the days of the legendary Gordie Howe and former Selkirk native, Jimmy Skinner, who coached Detroit to a Stanley Cup in 1955. Still, Zembik believes this will be the first time it is introduced to the St. Andrews Community Club.

Source: Selkirk Journal