Latvian hockey player Uvis Balinskis brings back the Stanley Cup!
On Monday, August 11, Mārupe became the capital of Latvian hockey - several hundred sports fans took the opportunity to see the legendary Stanley Cup in person. It was brought to Latvia by Uvis Jānis Balinskis, a defenseman for the National Hockey League (NHL) team Florida Panthers, who together with the team won the most prestigious trophy in hockey for the second year in a row this summer.
The event was opened by the Chairman of the Mārupe Municipality Council, Aivars Osītis, emphasizing that such meetings are proof for young people that nothing is impossible, as long as they believe in their abilities and are willing to put in the work. “This just proves that nothing comes for nothing. You have to believe in your abilities and, above all, you don’t have to be afraid to try. The young people of Mārupe municipality are already proving that they believe in themselves and are ready to achieve high goals - in sports, art, science or business. As a municipality, we must support and help them move towards these victories. A huge thank you to Uvis, the Latvian Hockey Federation and everyone present for this wonderful event,” said A. Osītis in his speech.
The President of the Latvian Hockey Federation Aigars Kalvītis emphasized that the Stanley Cup in Latvia for the third year in a row is a great achievement for all of hockey: “This is a great example for young hockey players - to strive for great, sporting achievements, not to fall into pessimism if something doesn’t work out, and to invest a lot of work. I hope that in years to come we will see this trophy in Latvia more and more often.”
Uvis Jānis Balinskis, who made his NHL debut at the age of 27, shared his experience, encouraging children and young people: “Don’t give up at the first difficulties if you are not selected or are not the best. Keep training, working, and maybe you will succeed next year or in a couple of years, as I did. Don’t give up - good things will happen!”
Visitors could not only look at, but also take pictures with the championship cup, whose history began almost 130 years ago. The Stanley Cup is unique in that the names of more than 3,400 hockey players, coaches and team representatives have been engraved on it. The trophy is 89.5 cm high and weighs 15.5 kg.
This historic event in Mārupe will be remembered as a day when the love of sports united fans of different generations, inspired children and young people, and for someone, perhaps became the first step on the path to their own Stanley Cup.
