Hundreds flocked to the Eden Prairie Community Center on Thursday to get a peak at hometown hero Jackson Blake and the most hallowed trophy in professional sports: Lord Stanley's Cup.
The line to see the cup and Jackson stretched around the building.
How long have people been waiting?
"Two hours. I know it's actually pretty incredible."
"I've been here for an hour and a half."
But once they got inside and witnessed everything in person, it was worth it.
"Oh, electric. That was pretty amazing. It's like a very fun and amazing moment. It's like really big and it's like my hands are shaking."
For the Blake Family, the scene is surreal.
"It's a special day not only for us, our family, but for the whole city of Eden Prairie and especially the rink. It's crazy," said Jackson Blake's father, Jason.
"I can't believe that this is real right now. I'm so proud of Jackson and it's so fun to see all the people that we grew up with in Eden Prairie," said another family member.
Blake is a member of the Carolina Hurricanes and, of course, and Eden Prairie native. Thursday, as is tradition with cup-winners, Blake got his turn to take the famous trophy for a spin, and took it home.
A line of over two hours to see the Cup and Blake shows how valuable a moment with the revered championship trophy is in hockey-mad Minnesota.
"It's hard to put in words because at the end of the day it's something that I chased for a long time and to watch your kid do it, you always want your kids to do better than you in life," Jason Blake said about his son. "Whatever they decide to do, and obviously for him playing a sport that I played and getting to the level where I got and even exceeding that, it's been a dream come true."
Jason Blake is from Moorhead, Minnesota, and played professionally for the Los Angeles Kings, New York Islanders, HC Lugano, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Anaheim Ducks.
As is tradition, Jason said he will be drinking out of the cup. He's just not sure what the beverage will be.
Blake was born in Fargo, North Dakota and grew up in Eden Prairie, Minnesota. He played one year of ice hockey at Shattuck-Saint Mary's before playing at Eden Prairie High School.
He played collegiately at North Dakota, and was selected in the fourth round, 109th , by the Carolina Hurricanes in the 2021 NHL entry draft.
It was a special opportunity to welcome a hometown hockey hero and get a chance to kiss that famous cup.
(Audacy / Ari Bergeron)
From hoisting the trophy on-ice to taking it home in Eden Praire, it's been quite a journey for Jackson Blake.
(Audacy / Ari Bergeron)
