A hometown hero made goals come true for native hockey followers.
One month after Steven Lorentz hoisted the Stanley Cup, the Florida Panthers ahead introduced the trophy to Waterloo Area.
His first cease was the Grand River Regional Most cancers Centre in Kitchener.
Sufferers, employees and different guests lined the halls of the hospital and cheered as Lorentz carried the cup by means of, sometimes stopping for selfies and to let individuals contact hockey’s Holy Grail.
Sandra Stuebing was couldn’t imagine her luck.
“I’m still shaking!” she advised afterwards. “It was very exciting. I did not want to come to chemo today, but after that, I’m in a great mood!”
Lorentz visited the chemotherapy suite, the place sufferers who had been receiving remedy posed for photographs.
Steven Lorentz with the Stanley Cup on the Grand River Regional Most cancers Centre in Kitchener on July 25, 2025. (Krista Simpson/)
The Panthers ahead made certain everybody bought a second with the trophy.
Nurse Yvonne Davidson felt a buzz within the air even earlier than Lorentz arrived. She stated getting an opportunity to see the Stanley Cup meant loads to these coping with severe well being conditions.
“It’s an excitement thing,” Davidson defined. “People don’t go home and then dwell on the negative. They go home and say: ‘Guys, guess what I got to do today?’”
Steven Lorentz with the Stanley Cup on the Grand River Regional Most cancers Centre in Kitchener on July 25, 2025. (Krista Simpson/)
Lorentz misplaced his father-in-law to most cancers just a few years in the past, so it was necessary to him to go to sufferers on the hospital.
“Being able to share it and make their day just a little bit better means the world,” he stated. “So taking it to them and seeing them smile and touching the cup made my day a whole lot better.”
After the Grand River Regional Most cancers Centre, Lorentz took the Stanley Cup to RIM Park in Waterloo the place tons of had been ready for his or her arrival.
The primary younger hockey participant in line stated he arrived at 8:40 a.m. and was prepared to face there for hours only for an opportunity to see the trophy.
“[I’m] very excited,” Isaac Goertz advised .
A sense additionally shared by Lorentz.
“I didn’t know what to expect,” he stated. “You know what, I didn’t care if there was 10 kids or 10,000 kids — or adults too. I mean it’s everybody’s dream, right?”
He added: “I just want to share [it] with as many people that can come through those doors and get a picture.”
Hockey followers lined as much as see the Stanley Cup at RIM Park on July 25, 2024.
These prepared to attend weren’t disillusioned.
“It was amazing. I had so much fun,” stated 9-year-old Ariel Chicas, who waited in line for about two hours. “This was my first time and I was so excited.”
It was additionally 11-year-old Spence Gaiser’s first time seeing hockey’s high trophy.
“I was really excited leading up to it and I really wanted to just get up there and I finally did. And I’m happy,” he stated.
Steven Lorentz with the Stanley Cup in Kitchener on July 25, 2024. (Krista Simpson/)
Lorentz’s father known as the day a dream come true, particularly contemplating the obstacles his son has confronted alongside the best way.
“Stevie was told by so many people all along, because he was a smaller child, ‘you can’t, you won’t, you shouldn’t,’” Mark Lorentz defined. “He said ‘I can, I will and I’m gonna.’ And he did.”
He stated it’s a lesson to anybody who has doubters.
“If you believe, just do it.”
For Steve Lorentz, he stays humble even whereas hoisting the Stanley Cup in his hometown.
“As special as it is for me, I’m the same kid that I was two years ago, three years ago. I was just lucky enough that we were able to get the job done, I guess.”
Lorentz’s teammate, Brandon Montour, introduced the trophy to Six Nations of the Grand River on Wednesday.
