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Former Ferris hockey standout Chris Kunitz brings Lord Stanley’s Cup to campus.
Chris Kuniz with the Stanley Cup
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If you happened to be sitting in the back of Ewigleben Ice Arena last July 23 just as the Anaheim Ducks starting left winger Chris Kunitz stepped to a podium set up on the ice next to the famed Stanley Cup, you would have seen scores of little LCD screens on the back of digital cameras come to life as some of the more than 1,500 hockey fans captured the moment for posterity.
The Ducks won Lord Stanley’s Cup on June 7 by skating to a 6-2 home victory over the Ottawa Senators in the decisive game. In what has become a tradition, members of the winning team get 24 hours with the trophy. The Ferris campus was Kunitz’ first stop with what is arguably the most iconic trophy in all of sports in tow.
After the on-ice ceremony during which he received a citation from the Ferris State University board of trustees and was awarded the Key to the City of Big Rapids, Kunitz signed photographs, jerseys, pucks and other paraphernalia for the hundreds of fans at the sports complex. Other fans lined up to have their photos taken with the Stanley Cup, with suggested donations benefiting the American Cancer Society. Kunitz then made the rounds to visit pediatric patients at Mecosta County Medical Center with the cup before flying to his home town of Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada, for more celebrations.
Kunitz and the Ducks begin their quest for a second Stanley Cup on Saturday, Sept. 29, in a game against the L.A. Kings in Los Angeles.
Chris Kunitz Facts
• In 2002-03 earned CCHA Player of the Year and NCAA-West First Team All-American honors
• Made his NHL debut with Anaheim in the 2003-04 season
• During the Ducks’ 2006-07 regular season scored 25 goals with 35 assists for 60 points, and recorded one goal and five assists in the post-season
• To date has skated in 171 regular season games for Anaheim, scoring 107 points on 44 goals and 63 assists
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