Oakbank celebrates with cup champion Howden

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This article was published 31/07/2023 (634 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Over a thousand residents lined Main Street in Oakbank July 23, trying to get a glimpse or even touch one of the biggest prizes in all of sports.

Brett Howden, a member of the cup-winning Vegas Golden Knights, grew up in the town and used his day with the Stanley Cup to celebrate with friends, family and the broader Oakbank community.

After the parade down Main Street, there was a short ceremony, hosted by radio host Ace Burpee, who was sporting an Oakbank hockey jersey.

“This is way better than I ever could have imagined,” Brett told the packed crowd outside the Oakbank Arena, noting the turnout was way higher than he thought it would be.

“I’ve always dreamed of winning the cup and bringing it back to Oakbank.”

Springfield mayor Patrick Therrien, and one of Howden’s minor hockey coaches Ian Hutchinson also spoke at the event.

Therrien called it a, “momentous occasion,” for the community.

“My idol was Yvan Cournoyer, the Roadrunner, Gordie Howe, Bobby Hull, Ken Dryden and Carey Price. Now kids will be having Brett Howden as their idol,” Therrien said.

“I remember Brett as a kid, walking around the neighbourhood, biking around with friends, playing hockey at the outdoor rink.”

Burpee said he was blown away by the community support shown to Howden.

“I used to dream about bringing the cup back to Cooks Creek,” Burpee said.

“I’d imagine that parade, probably between like nine and 11 people, lining 212, Cooks Creek Road. This is so surreal. I actually can’t believe that’s the Stanley Cup. This is mind-blowing to me.”

Hutchinson said he remembered Howden winning championships as a younger kid in Oakbank.

“Right from the start you could see Brett’s talent was evident, and his flair and love of the game was always there,” Hutchinson said.

During Howden’s first practice, the team was doing wrist shot drills, with coaches, including Hutchinson encouraging the kids to stop trying to hit slapshots and practice their wrist shots instead. During Howden’s first game, that advice went out the window.

“(Brett) hit centre ice, begins to line himself up for a slapshot, and we begin to laugh on the bench,” Hutchinson said.

“By the time he hits the blue line, in stride, he gets the shot off, hits the top of the net, scoring. I only know one other five year old that could have made that shot. He’s also a former NHL first-round draft pick and NHL player and he’s a Howden as well… After that shot, I never laughed at anything Brett tried on the ice again.”

Brett’s brother, Quinton, has nearly 100 games of NHL experience, and has continued his pro career in Europe, where he is set to suit up for Vasterviks in the Sweedish league this season.

Brett had no shortage of thanks for his entire family and community members for supporting his pro hockey journey.

“I would not have been able to get here without you guys,” Howden said.

“You guys have been supporting me and loving me my whole life, and I would not be able to do this without any one of you.”

After the ceremony, residents were able to take a picture with Brett and the cup inside the very arena he played squirts in, with the lineup stretching across the entire arena parking lot.