Stanley Cup travels from Florida to Canada, making stops to motivate fans along the way

The Stanley Cup is known for being many things—a symbol of victory, style, and emotions. It continues its classic championship parade following the Florida Panthers' record-breaking win and the current tour already has some touching moments. From Matthew Tkachuk's birthplace in St. Louis to Brian Riedel's Wisconsin origins, the Stanley Cup seems to be making emotional stops all over North America before returning to Canada with Jonah Gadjovich. Florida Panthers forward Matthew Tkachuk brought the legendary trophy to his hometown of St. Louis recently and made a special visit to St. Louis Children's Hospital. The NHL sensation spent time with sick kids, taking photos and allowing them to touch the aura of hockey's Holy Grail. Matthew Tkachuk didn't leave it at that. He also honored local responders and stopped at his hometown favorite, OB Clark's—a home for the St. Louis hockey community. These are personal touches that indicate how players, such as Matthew Tkachuk, are utilizing their time with the Stanley Cup to return the favor in some way.The next stop on the Cup's cross-country tour was Wisconsin, where it arrived with Florida Panthers athletic trainer Brian Riedel. A graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, Riedel made an emotional stop at UW-Health's American Family Children's Hospital in Madison.“I know some of these kids are going through some hard times, so just to put a smile on their face is all we want to do today and give them something to look at and admire and hopefully inspire them to be a Stanley Cup champion someday,” Brian Riedel told WMTV. Brian Riedel has played a key behind-the-scenes role in both of the Florida Panthers’ championship runs. Before joining the NHL club, he was the head athletic trainer for the Hershey Bears, the American Hockey League affiliate. Florida Panthers forward Jonah Gadjovich will be bringing the Cup home to his hometown of Whitby, Ontario, on Tuesday. Jonah Gadjovich also plans to hold a public session where he'll reunite with other alumni members of the Whitby Minor Hockey Association.Also read: Connor McDavid’s next team already decided? Report suggests one Stanley Cup contender has the edgeFor the Florida Panthers and their fans, the legacy of this victory will endure not only in books about history but also in the hearts of people in communities throughout North America.