Another Schenn on the Cup
Former Kelowna Rocket wins NHL championship one year after his brother
Amid the chaos and celebration of winning a Stanley Cup, Luke Schenn picked up the phone when his old team, the Kelowna Rockets, came calling. “Anything for the Hamilton family and the Rockets,” Schenn said prior to a champions parade — held by boat — Wednesday in Tampa, Florida.
With a 2-0 victory over the Dallas Stars in Game 6 on Monday, the Tampa Bay Lightning claimed their second Stanley Cup in franchise history, and Schenn became the fifth former Rocket to lift the chalice.
“When you make the NHL, that’s always the dream. It’s just hard to believe that it’s a reality right now,” he told Kelownarockets.com.
Schenn’s younger brother, Brayden, was on the St. Louis Blues’ Stanley Cup-winning team last year. Schenn said that watching his brother motivated him.
“I got to experience Brayden do it last year. I went to Games 5, 6 and 7 last year against the Bruins. I was on the ice when he got to hoist it at the end. It was a super special moment for him, but also our whole family. I was the proudest older brother in the world, but right after that happened, it was my dream and goal to get the chance to do it myself. Here we are now, back-to-back years and we both have a ring; it’s beyond words,” he said.
“It’s incredible, it doesn’t really make sense because it’s just such a rare thing for brothers to get the chance. I think it’s maybe happened a few times in NHL history, it’s just a rare thing. For us to be the brothers who got their name on the cup beside each other like that is beyond words, we’re so grateful and honestly, it’s just an amazing feeling for our entire family.”
Schenn played 189 games for the Rockets from 2005-08. He scored 12 goals and 68 points, adding two goals and two assists in 19 playoff games.
He was drafted fifth overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2008. He’s also played for the Philadelphia Flyers, L.A. Kings, Arizona Coyotes, Anaheim Ducks and Vancouver Canucks over 759 career NHL games.
In his NHL career, Schenn has 31 goals, 117 assists, 148 points and 568 penalty minutes.
But he’s never experienced the NHL like he did this year, playing first in the Toronto bubble and then in Edmonton for the final.
Schenn, who didn’t have any family in the bubbles, said winning wouldn’t have been possible without family support.
“The wives, families and girlfriends made a huge sacrifice for us to be away and get the chance to chase our dreams. They took care of the kids and stuff back home, so huge shoutout and hats off to them for holding down the fort and allowing us to be gone this long,” he said. “The one thing is, you’re able to create such a special bond with guys. You’re literally in the hotel with them every day hanging out, watching hockey, playing cards or video games, doing whatever. You’d create bonds that you would never have the chance of doing when you’re in a normal circumstance, the bonds and relationships created during that time will be some of the fondest memories for me.”
Schenn and his wife, Jessica, welcomed their second son into the world toward the end of April. Schenn said one of the most difficult things was leaving his young family at home. While his wife has joined him in Tampa for the festivities, his kids are back home in Kelowna.
“I can’t wait to see my kids again. I have a three-year-old and a five-month-old back home right now. My newborn was two months when I left, so I’ve been gone for over half of his life to chase this dream. My wife has been unbelievable, holding down the fort along with her family. It couldn’t be a better ending to win it all, but I couldn’t be more excited to go home and be with my boys again and just be a dad again.
“I hope that they get the chance to get their name on it, too.”
After playing 25 games with Tampa in the regular season (scoring once and adding two assists), Schenn added two assists in 11 playoff games. Unfortunately, he was left watching the rest of the finals from the press box after Game 1 due to an injury.
In the finals, Schenn faced off against former Rockets Jamie Benn and Blake Comeau.
“I played with Jamie and Blake while I was in Kelowna at separate times while I was there. Jamie is a great friend. We became really close when I played with him there. Blake is one of my best friends; he was even in my wedding party. It was tough to see him get hurt,” Schenn said.
“Blake and Jamie are great guys, they’ve had unbelievable careers, I hope that they get the chance to get their name on it too, it’s a pretty special feeling.”