Sunday was Nicklas Backstrom’s day with the Stanley Cup. After he kicked off his morning with his kids using the Cup as a fancy ice cream bowl, it was time to make a lifelong dream come true. Just like he fantasized about five years ago in an interview with Viasat, Backstrom brought the Stanley Cup to his youth ice rink in Valbo, the NickBack Arena.
Before Backstrom visited with the people of Valbo, he took a tour around his childhood hometown. Valbo is a small town at 3.18 sq miles and just over 7k inhabitants. The Valbo Wikipedia page says it is known for “the large shopping mall Valbo köpcentrum and for being the birthplace of Stanley Cup champion Nicklas Backstrom.”
Backstrom stopped by his childhood home, elementary school, and rink, which are all within half a mile of each other.
The rink holds an extra special place in his heart.
In what used to be an outdoor rink where @backstrom19 first laced up his skates is now appropriately named “NickBack Arena” #ALLCAPS #StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/Hyjpw2lYto
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) August 12, 2018
The NickBack Arena wasn’t always what it is today. When Backstrom skated there, it was an outdoor rink named the Valbo Ice Hall. In 2011, Backstrom took over as an official sponsor and they renamed the rink the NickBack Arena.
With his old teammates that he grew up skating with surrounding him, Backstrom stepped onto the ice with the legendary trophy.
“I had to think of something else to keep myself from crying,” Backstrom told Gefle Dagblad about the moment he walked onto the rink as he was touched by this historic moment.
He also shared a special moment with Ingrid, the only person who worked at the rink when Backstrom first started skating.
Nicky with Ingrid, the only person who worked at this rink when they first started skating #ALLCAPS #StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/lXb5Udp8R3
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) August 12, 2018
The NickBack Arena even set up a massive red carpet for Backstrom to walk out on.
And, of course, a lot of fans came out to take pictures with the great son of Valbo.
After the event, the Backstrom’s spent a quiet night with Lord Stanley with a boatride on the Baltic Sea.
Backstroms on the Baltic #ALLCAPS #StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/RzpjwfBKUI
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) August 12, 2018
Headline image: @capitals
