On Monday, the Stanley Cup arrived in the Czech Republic for the first time in three years after a warm,”f&cking unbelievable” sendoff by Alex Ovechkin. Recently re-signed defenseman Michal Kempny was the first of the team’s Czechs to get his hands on the championship trophy, hosting it at a backyard party at sunset.
On Tuesday, Kempny’s “official day” with the Stanley Cup began by first taking it to his hometown hockey rink in Hodonín.
He traveled in style.
Good morning from Hodonin, Czech Republic #ALLCAPS @StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/NNMVD18RP6
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) July 10, 2018
Driving a mustang with the top down, Kempny peeled out of his home with a seatbelt fastened around the Stanley Cup in the passenger’s side seat.
Always make sure to buckle up! pic.twitter.com/WADATBxy9D
— Ian Oland (@ianoland) July 10, 2018
This is a very good look.
On our way to Kempny’s childhood rink #ALLCAPS #StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/Il6tyQgWA6
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) July 10, 2018
Eventually, Kempny arrived at his hometown rink in Hodonín, Zimní stadion Václava Nedomanského.
A suite of drummers accompanied Kempny as he carried the Stanley Cup right to the middle of the rink.
Very warm welcome for the hometown guy #ALLCAPS #StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/eCVDh4vWG6
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) July 10, 2018
According to RMNB’s Alexandra Petáková, who was at the event, around five hundred people came out for the ceremony. The rink is located in southern Moravia and Hodonín has a population of 25 thousand people. Kempný is the first native of Hodonín and Southern Moravia in general to ever win the Cup.
Kempny was welcomed by thunderous applause. After receiving congratulations by the mayor of the city, Kempny did a brief interview over the loudspeaker and spoke about his roots in Hodonín and the history of the local rink (2018 coincidentally marks 60 years since the rink was built).
Alex Ovechkin’s message to Kempný couldn’t be left out either. When asked about it, Kempný joked, “I was a bit worried if the Cup would even arrive because all of you could see how he snogged it. So I’m glad we got it here and can enjoy it together.”
Kempný also praised Ovechkin’s “killer instinct” and desire to be a leader, calling him “a funny fella, a typical Russian, a real patriot proud of Russia.”
Those in attendance were also available to see footage from Kempný’s childhood (which included a photo in his first jock strap, which only proves that mothers save certain pictures for the most opportune time) and his highlights from his time in the Czech Extraliga and KHL all the way through the Stanley Cup celebration.
Photos: @martinsekanina
It was before the autograph session was supposed to start when the security wobbled and a few dozen people found their way on ice level. That delayed a planned hockey competition (but no worries, one lucky sharpshooter eventually walked away with a signed jersey) and forced an impromptu marathon of pictures, which Kempný took with poise and patience, making sure all the kids from the local hockey team had a chance to take a picture with him and the Cup as well.
The spontaneous hunt for pictures carried on for a better part of hour.
Those either lucky or determined enough would also walk away with signed cards provided by the staff.
Eventually the crowd made way for Kempný to take the Cup to the VIP guests he invited, and the event was unofficially finished, original schedule abandoned. With the session cut off early and with people reluctant to leave, Kempný ended up sneaking out though the back door.
He was now off to Brno to celebrate with the fans of the recent back-to-back Extraliga champions and Kempný’s former team, HC Kometa Brno.
Stanley Cup už je v Brně! 🙌 V 17:00 zde začíná program pro fanoušky 🏆 pic.twitter.com/n6x243J1Eq
— Hokejový nároďák (@narodnitym) July 10, 2018
Over 3,000 fans attended the well-organized event in Brno later in the day at DRFG Arena.
Kempny concluded his evening by drinking some wine out of the Stanley Cup.
“[We] already drank some [wine out of the Stanley Cup] on Monday,” Kempny said to denik.cz. “We’ll pour something in there again, probably wine again.”
Southern Moravia is famous for its wineries.
Translations and additional reporting by Alexandra Petáková.
