Vegas Golden Knights general manager brings Stanley Cup home to southwestern Manitoba

Bringing the Stanley Cup to Southwestern Manitoba's biggest city has been a homecoming for the Vegas Golden Knights' general manager.

Kelly McCrimmon was in Brandon Friday to share hockey's biggest trophy with the city he calls home, although he's originally from Plenty, Sask.

It was a "pretty amazing feeling," he said, because it was unveiled at the Keystone Centre, home of the WHL Wheat Kings, a team he coached, managed and finally owned.

"It's the best trophy in sports, and I think it's just a great opportunity for people to see," McCrimmon said. "We're happy that people do want to see it and they are here, and it'll be really memorable for everyone today."

Brandon is McCrimmon's home, he says. His kids were born and raised in the Wheat City, and he worked with the Wheat Kings for 27 years. He owned the team until joining the Knights in 2016.

Taking home the very first Stanley Cup for Las Vegas was an incredible feeling of pure jubilation, McCrimmon said. 

"I don't think a person's ever going to get tired of lifting the Stanley Cup," McCrimmon said. "That's the chance of a lifetime."

But then seeing the Knights' names etched on it brought new joy.

"That's a really cool feeling, when you look at the Stanley Cup for the first time and see your name on it."

Brenda Gibson arrived around 6 a.m. Friday to be second among hundreds who lined up to see McCrimmon and get a photo with the Stanley Cup.

Gibson, who volunteered for the Wheat Kings for almost 20 years, said it's been amazing seeing someone from Brandon with deep ties to the community reach the top of the hockey world.

"Somebody from Brandon is a Stanley Cup champion. That's a big deal," Gibson said. "I remember watching the final game and seeing Kelly lift the Cup.