PLANO, Texas – Most hockey fans in the Metroplex were heartbroken after watching the Tampa Bay Lightning defeat the Dallas Stars in the Stanley Cup Finals. But for everyone in Plano, it was a special moment because their hometown star Blake Coleman got to hoist that trophy.
What You Need To Know
- Blake Coleman is the first Texas-born player to win a Stanley Cup
- The Plano City Council honored his athletic achievement by declaring Nov. 2 as “Blake Coleman Day”
- Coleman was away from his family and newborn for 2 months as he finished the season in Canada
It’s not every day you win a world championship on the ice. It’s also not every day a Texan lifts that Stanley Cup trophy. In fact, it’s never been done before in the history of the NHL. Coleman is the first to hold that honor, which is why the City of Plano decided to honor him.
Plano Mayor Harry LaRosiliere christened November 2 as Blake Coleman Day in Plano and paid tribute to Coleman with a “puck to the city” in a virtual ceremony.
“It’s special,” Coleman said. “I was already excited to get home and be with the family to share the win with them. But to have the mayor call and want to do something special, it meant a lot to us."
Us meaning his family. Without their endless love and support, there would be no NHL career and no Stanley Cup championship.
“This is as much theirs as it is mine,” Coleman said. “It was a great excuse to get everyone in the same room and look back on what happened."
When Coleman looks back on 2020, one word comes to mind: chaos. In February, his baby girl Charlie was born. Then the pandemic struck. The NHL decided to resume its season in a Canadian bubble, leaving Coleman the tough decision to finish playing away from his family.
“At the end of the day, I’ll look back on this year with a baby girl who is healthy and happy and a cup that took a lot to win,” said Coleman.
Upon the team’s return home to Tampa, Coleman sat his baby in the Cup during a celebration. The real question now is what to do with the Cup when it makes its way home to Texas.
“We’ll have a little celebration. We’ll probably do it COVID-style. But either way it will be great to have the Cup here in person and be able to share it,” said Coleman.
As a child, shooting a puck on ice wasn’t the most popular choice in a state that’s dominated by football, basketball, and baseball. Coleman was a pioneer for the sport and has been a major influence on today’s youth.
“I know there are a lot of kids in my age group that benefited from the Stars coming to town,” said Coleman. “It’s come a really long way and I don’t think there will be a lot of surprises when kids are coming out of Texas now."
We could very well see a new breed of hockey players on the ice with deep Texas roots, just like Blake Coleman.