A Look Back At Penguins' First Stanley Cup: 'Oh, What A Night'
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) - I have had the privilege to report on a variety of big stories in my career, from the homeless to presidents and popes, from disasters to ecstasy.
Ranking high on the list from a personal level is the night of May 25, 1991. The night the Pittsburgh Penguins won their first Stanley Cup. It was Game 6, the Penguins led the series 3-2. By the time the game was over, one questioned why it had lasted that long. The Penguins won 8-0, a shutout, and pure domination by the Pens, especially by Mario Lemieux. His goal is still one of the more remarkable goals ever made in the Cup Finals.
My memory of the game goes beyond just the game. It was the atmosphere before and after the game. I was reporting live from inside the Met Center in Bloomington, Minnesota. The team had already arrived, a couple of hours before the game. After my report, I looked in the stands and sitting there, by himself, was winger Jay Caufield. He was a "healthy scratch" for the game and he was sitting there, looking at the rink and the arena, taking it all in.
I sat down next to him and we chatted for a few minutes. Jay was a member of the team, but had played in only 23 games that season. It was not easy to be sitting there, not dressing, for what could be his only opportunity to play for the Cup. At the same time, he was sitting there and he was a member of the Pens and he was taking in the moment.
After the game, the locker room was boisterous. The celebratory laughter and yelling could be heard echoing through the hallway a good distance from the locker room door. One did not have to open the door to get in. It was wide open and try as team personnel did to limit who was allowed in, their efforts seemed futile.
I made my way inside. It was hot, humid and loud, but no one cared. Past the benches lining the right side of the room, was the scene of the most activity. There was Mario, his jersey off, sweating and smiling as he stood there holding the Cup having his picture taken with just about everyone.
Tinsy Labrie of the Pens urged me to have my picture taken as well. I am grateful she did. It is one of the more treasured photos I have in my career.
How many people can say they stood there with Mario, holding the Stanley Cup just an hour after the pens won it?
I then sat down on those benches to the right. Like Jay Caufield before the game, I was taking it all in after the game. A moment later, Paul Coffey sat down next to me. We had never met. It didn't matter. He said, "Pretty awesome, huh?" I replied, "Unbelievable."
He had already been a member of three Stanley Cup winning teams. This was his fourth.
He said, "It never gets old."
It was quite a night.
Oh, as for Jay Caufield? His name is on the Cup.
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