REGINA – The Stanley Cup could be making a stop in Saskatchewan this summer.
With the Pittsburgh Penguins Game 7 victory over Tampa Bay on Thursday night the Stanley Cup Final is now set. The Penguins will face the San Jose Sharks for all the marbles in a match-up that features four Saskatchewan-born players.
Patrick Marleau
Hometown: Aneroid, SK
Age: 36
Team: San Jose Sharks
Position: Left Wing
After 18 NHL seasons, 1,411 regular season games and 165 playoff games Patrick Marleau will finally play for hockey’s Holy Grail. The 36-year old has appeared in four conference finals, but this will be his first trip to the big dance.
The Aneroid, SK product has spent his entire career in San Jose after being the second overall pick in the 1997 entry draft and is the Sharks’ all time leader in goals, points and games played, both regular season and playoffs.
Marleau heads into the final tied for 23rd in playoff scoring with 12 points in 18 games.
Chris Kunitz
Hometown: Regina, SK
Age: 36
Team: Pittsburgh Penguins
Position: Left Wing
Chris Kunitz will be looking to add another Stanley Cup ring to his collection after also winning it all with the Penguins in 2009 and the Anaheim Ducks in 2007. The Regina, SK native has been in Pittsburgh for the past 8 seasons after being acquired in a trade with the Ducks during the 2008-2009 campaign. He has four goals and six assists in 18 games this spring.
Derrick Pouliot
Hometown: Weyburn, SK
Age: 22
Team: Pittsburgh Penguins
Position: Defenceman
After making his NHL playoff debut in the second round against Washington Derrick Pouliot is hoping to cap off his first postseason with a championship. The 22-year old grew up in Weyburn and played his midget AAA hockey in Moose Jaw, before making the jump to the Portland Winterhawks of the WHL. He was then selected eighth overall in the 2012 NHL entry draft.
Pouliot only suited up for 22 games during the regular season and two more in the playoffs, so he would need to play at least one game in the final to be eligible to have his name engraved on the cup.
Josh Archibald
Hometown: Regina, SK
Age: 23
Team: Pittsburgh Penguins
Position: Right Wing
Josh Archibald was born in Regina, but grew up in Brainerd, Minnesota. The 23-year old was recalled by Pittsburgh after Wilke-Barre/Scranton (Penguins’ AHL affliate) was eliminated from the Calder Cup playoffs. Archibald played his first and only NHL game during the regular season and, just like Pouliot, would need to play a game in the Stanley Cup Final in order to get his name on the cup.
The Stanley Cup Final starts on Monday.
Here’s a full schedule:
- Game 1: Monday, May 30th – San Jose @ Pittsburgh (8:00PM EST)
- Game 2: Wednesday, June 1st – San Jose @ Pittsburgh (8:00PM EST)
- Game 3: Saturday, June 4th – Pittsburgh @ San Jose (8:00PM EST)
- Game 4: Monday, June 6th – Pittsburgh @ San Jose (8:00PM EST)
- * Game 5: Thursday, June 9th – San Jose @ Pittsburgh (8:00PM EST)
- * Game 6: Sunday, June 12th – Pittsburgh @ San Jose (8:00PM EST)
- * Game 7: Wednesday, June 15th – San Jose @ Pittsburgh (8:00PM EST)
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