Boyhood dream comes true
Summerside’s Grant Sonier celebrates championship as a scout for Tampa Bay
Grant Sonier was like many Canadian kids who grew up dreaming of raising the Stanley Cup over his head.
The 56-year-old Summerside native had the chance to do just that after the Tampa Bay Lightning defeated the Montreal Canadiens 1-0 to win the best-of-seven series in five games on July 7 in Tampa, Fla.
“It’s a boyhood dream come true,” said Sonier, who signed a one-year contract to be an amateur scout with the Lightning in 2020. “I understand why people can’t talk about it when they get a chance to be part of one. It’s just overwhelming.”
Sonier, who has worked in various roles in the game throughout his career, said there were a lot of emotions.
“It makes you think of family; it makes you think of all the people that you have been around. Everyone’s path is helped by a lot of different people,” he said.
Sonier also thought about those who have spent more time than him in the game and never had the opportunity to win hockey’s Holy Grail.
“I have to really cherish this.”
Sonier has worked for a few different NHL teams during his career. The list includes Tampa Bay, Los Angeles and Boston. Those teams all went on to win the Stanley Cup shortly after Sonier’s tenure.
Charlottetown native Kameron Kielly, who just finished his first season as a professional hockey player, sent Sonier a text message on July 8 to congratulate him.
Sonier was the Charlottetown Islanders’ general manager in August 2013 when
they acquired Kielly from the Gatineau Olympiques after his rookie season in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. The two have remained in touch over the years, and Kielly said Sonier has helped him throughout his career.
“Grant is a guy who brought me in and kind of gave me the opportunity to play at home and live the hometown dream and fulfil my dream, so to see him lift the Cup and actually be in the building is pretty special,” he said. “I’m sure he’s on Cloud 9.”
Sonier wasn’t the only Isles’ alumni in Tampa to see the Lightning repeat. Former captain Pierre-Olivier (P.O.) Joseph was there as his older brother, Mathieu, plays for the Lightning.
Sonier thanked Lightning owner Jeff Vinik and general manager Julien BriseBois for inviting the staff to Florida to watch the game.
Sonier was supposed to get to Tampa on July 6 but had to stay overnight in Chicago due to tropical storm Elsa. He was able to board a flight the next day to get to Tampa in time for the game night. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, Sonier’s wife, Emily McKeown, and daughter Ellie, who turns 10 later this month, were unable to attend the game, but they FaceTimed during the evening.
Sonier will stay in Tampa for the parade. No date had been announced before press time.
Sonier attended games this season at the Eastlink Centre in Charlottetown where only a limited number of fans were permitted to attend due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Meanwhile the Stanley Cup finale had a capacity crowd.
“That’s one of the great things about last night. For that moment, you were able to forget about what’s going on in the world,” Sonier said.