“Definitely motivated” – Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon finally hoists Stanley Cup with his team after years of disappointment
Nathan MacKinnon hoists the Stanley Cup
The Colorado Avalanche players crowded on the ice as the Avalanche took over the Stanley Cup in Game 6 against the two-time reigning champions, the Tampa Bay Lightning. The team enjoyed their ‘win’ moment after the final horn blew out. Nathan MacKinnon stated that his childhood dream came true as he hoisted the Stanley Cup up in the air with his team.
After the final horn, MacKinnon tackled Erik Johnson in his arms as the Avalanche clinched the Cup with a 2-1 victory over the Lightning. Johnson screamed in excitement, “ We did it!” “I love you”. Though while relishing in their enjoyment Johnson had hit his head and MacKinnon cut his hand, but they couldn’t be bothered with these trivial things at that moment. They embraced each other as their teammates celebrated behind the net.
Nathan MacKinnon’s childhood dream came true
After their Stanley Cup celebration on the ice, Nathan MacKinnon noted, “I met him when I was a kid”. “I was 17 years old when I met him 10 years ago. We came in last place together.” It’s during these moments that all your hardships and your journey to the Cup flash in front of your eyes. MacKinnon always had the dream to get drafted by Colorado Avalanche and play with Joe Sakic, though the time when he joined Sakic became the general manager.
Nathan MacKinnon, Erik Johnson, and Gabriel Landeskog have been teammates for a long time. The Avalanche missed the Stanley Cup Playoffs three years in a row after losing in the Western Conference Finals and finished last in NHL with 48 points in 2016-17. MacKinnon noted, “There’s always next year”. “It’s all we talk about, I feel like. I mean, I’m going into my ninth year next year and haven’t won [bleep], so I’m just definitely motivated.”
As penned on nhl.com, Joe Sakic said about Nathan MacKinnon, “You could tell how bad he wanted it”. “You heard his interview last year after we lost to Vegas, and you saw how disappointed he was. He’s just an amazing person, an amazing hockey player. He wants to win so bad, and I’m excited for him. Maybe now he can relax and enjoy the summer a little bit.” MacKinnon commented after winning the Cup, “Just kind of get flashbacks from my whole childhood, my whole life”. “It feels amazing.”
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Kaushani Chatterjee
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