Also known as a “celebration” by those unfamiliar with the latest hockey slang, the Stanley Cup party hosted by hometown hero Sidney Crosby goes down this Saturday.
The city promises it will be special, but also advises residents to “ plan in advance and “arrive early” for this weekend’s festivities.
“From the moment that they won … the question started to come into the municipality, and I’m sure to Sidney and his family and his friends as well, asking if the Cup would be coming back,” Halifax Regional Municipality spokeswoman Tiffany Chase told Metro this week.
Crosby, 28, captained the Pittsburgh Penguins to this year’s coveted cup, which he brings home for the second time in his National Hockey League career.
He also brought the most sought after trophy in hockey back seven years ago, on Aug. 7, 2009, marking his 22nd birthday by hosting a parade and an outdoor community event that drew tens of thousands to Cole Harbour.
This year’s celebration caps off the second annual Sidney Crosby Hockey School, which ran this week at Cole Harbour Place.
“We’re very pleased to be partnering with Sidney … to bring the cup back to the municipality and to Cole Harbour, and host a parade in his honour, and in celebration of the Penguins winning,” Chase said.
Crosby scored six goals and added 13 assists for 19 points in 24 playoff games to help the Pens beat out the San Jose Sharks in six games during the 2016 Stanley Cup Final, with Pittsburgh’s 3-1 victory June 12 sealing Stanley.
The Cole Harbour star notched two helpers in Game 6 alone, including on the game-winning goal, en route to earning Crosby this year’s prestigious Conn Smythe Trophy, recognizing the top player in the NHL playoffs.
Crosby’s victory parade kicks off at 10:30 a.m. at Saint John XXIII Parish church at 35 Colby Dr., continues north on Cumberland Drive, heads across Cole Harbour Road, goes onto Forest Hills Parkway and then finally turns into Cole Harbour Place.
Spectators are welcome to line both sides of Cumberland Drive and Forest Hills Parkway to watch the parade, which is expected to last about 45 minutes, although timing also depends on how long it takes Crosby to move through the hordes of hockey fans.
Halifax RCMP will have traffic control officers at all intersections to control the crowd, the municipality emphasizes.
Also to help control traffic while helping residents from across the province get to and from Cole Harbour, Halifax Transit is offering free bus shuttles, which start at about 7:50 a.m. from the Penhorn terminal just off Portland Street and lower parking lot of Mic Mac Mall in Dartmouth. They’ll depart every 10 minutes through 10 a.m., taking residents straight to Cole Harbour Place.
Following the festivities, shuttles will depart every 10 minutes, starting at about 1 p.m. and running through 3 p.m., travelling from the arena back to those two locations. The Penhorn shuttle will make one stop at the Portland Hills Terminal inbound and outbound for those using the free park and ride lot there, the HRM event website says.
“Certainly, take advantage of those free buses,” Chase said, “and if you can, also get dropped off and walk if you’re able to.”
“We do anticipate a significant amount of traffic along Portland Street and Forest Hills Parkway in advance of the parade, and of course we will be shutting down the parade route,” she said.
“So arrive early and get your spot so that you can see the parade.”
The parade will be followed by a public event inside Cole Harbour Place, which is expected to include a question-and-answer session.
“There will also likely be a few special guest speakers, similar to last time,” Chase said.
But there will be limited parking at Cole Harbour Place, she warns, so those who wish to attend the event inside the arena will have to plan for that.
There was no word as of mid-week whether the public will be able to interact directly with either Crosby or the Stanley Cup, although further event details were expected to be unveiled later in the week.
“We’re very proud of Sidney and all that he is done to show young people from this region that they can set their sights on a goal and achieve that goal by working really hard,” Chase said.
“So we want to celebrate what he has done for our community.”
Visit halifax.ca/sidneycrosbyparade/index.php for updates.
Did you know: Sidney Crosby is expected to bring along some surprise guests with him for this year’s Stanley Cup celebrations in Cole Harbour, according to various sources.
Also known as a “celebration” by those unfamiliar with the latest hockey slang, the Stanley Cup party hosted by hometown hero Sidney Crosby goes down this Saturday.
The city promises it will be special, but also advises residents to “ plan in advance and “arrive early” for this weekend’s festivities.
“From the moment that they won … the question started to come into the municipality, and I’m sure to Sidney and his family and his friends as well, asking if the Cup would be coming back,” Halifax Regional Municipality spokeswoman Tiffany Chase told Metro this week.
Crosby, 28, captained the Pittsburgh Penguins to this year’s coveted cup, which he brings home for the second time in his National Hockey League career.
He also brought the most sought after trophy in hockey back seven years ago, on Aug. 7, 2009, marking his 22nd birthday by hosting a parade and an outdoor community event that drew tens of thousands to Cole Harbour.
This year’s celebration caps off the second annual Sidney Crosby Hockey School, which ran this week at Cole Harbour Place.
“We’re very pleased to be partnering with Sidney … to bring the cup back to the municipality and to Cole Harbour, and host a parade in his honour, and in celebration of the Penguins winning,” Chase said.
Crosby scored six goals and added 13 assists for 19 points in 24 playoff games to help the Pens beat out the San Jose Sharks in six games during the 2016 Stanley Cup Final, with Pittsburgh’s 3-1 victory June 12 sealing Stanley.
The Cole Harbour star notched two helpers in Game 6 alone, including on the game-winning goal, en route to earning Crosby this year’s prestigious Conn Smythe Trophy, recognizing the top player in the NHL playoffs.
Crosby’s victory parade kicks off at 10:30 a.m. at Saint John XXIII Parish church at 35 Colby Dr., continues north on Cumberland Drive, heads across Cole Harbour Road, goes onto Forest Hills Parkway and then finally turns into Cole Harbour Place.
Spectators are welcome to line both sides of Cumberland Drive and Forest Hills Parkway to watch the parade, which is expected to last about 45 minutes, although timing also depends on how long it takes Crosby to move through the hordes of hockey fans.
Halifax RCMP will have traffic control officers at all intersections to control the crowd, the municipality emphasizes.
Also to help control traffic while helping residents from across the province get to and from Cole Harbour, Halifax Transit is offering free bus shuttles, which start at about 7:50 a.m. from the Penhorn terminal just off Portland Street and lower parking lot of Mic Mac Mall in Dartmouth. They’ll depart every 10 minutes through 10 a.m., taking residents straight to Cole Harbour Place.
Following the festivities, shuttles will depart every 10 minutes, starting at about 1 p.m. and running through 3 p.m., travelling from the arena back to those two locations. The Penhorn shuttle will make one stop at the Portland Hills Terminal inbound and outbound for those using the free park and ride lot there, the HRM event website says.
“Certainly, take advantage of those free buses,” Chase said, “and if you can, also get dropped off and walk if you’re able to.”
“We do anticipate a significant amount of traffic along Portland Street and Forest Hills Parkway in advance of the parade, and of course we will be shutting down the parade route,” she said.
“So arrive early and get your spot so that you can see the parade.”
The parade will be followed by a public event inside Cole Harbour Place, which is expected to include a question-and-answer session.
“There will also likely be a few special guest speakers, similar to last time,” Chase said.
But there will be limited parking at Cole Harbour Place, she warns, so those who wish to attend the event inside the arena will have to plan for that.
There was no word as of mid-week whether the public will be able to interact directly with either Crosby or the Stanley Cup, although further event details were expected to be unveiled later in the week.
“We’re very proud of Sidney and all that he is done to show young people from this region that they can set their sights on a goal and achieve that goal by working really hard,” Chase said.
“So we want to celebrate what he has done for our community.”
Visit halifax.ca/sidneycrosbyparade/index.php for updates.
Did you know: Sidney Crosby is expected to bring along some surprise guests with him for this year’s Stanley Cup celebrations in Cole Harbour, according to various sources.
