I'm Still Standing

48

Jonathan

I've always dreamed of what I would do with my day with the cup. I watched my idols drink from it, swim in a lake with it, do almost anything I want with it. Of course there has been some rules put into place since I watched my idols flaunting it around. But I planned on using it for good, not for personal reasons .

We arrive in Winnipeg nice and early and set up for a nice little ceremony to show the cup off to the city. We had a lot to do today, my mom worked her ass off planning my days with the cup and I wanted to make sure I could take it as many places as I can. From what I can tell she planned a big two days and I couldn't wait to get started.

We all meet up at my childhood home and we were going to take off from there. But the camera crew following me around today wanted some videos of my room and all the stuff my parents put up in there from when I first started skating all the way up to the gold medal I won earlier this year. Rachel stands in the middle of the room with the biggest smile on her face as she looked around.

"This is honestly the greatest thing ever. It's like a Jonathan Toews shrine" she squeals as she looks around.

"It's embarrassing, that's what it is. I keep telling my dad to take it down" I shake my head.

"At least you're have a dad who was around for each of these medals" she starts. I sink once I realized that this wasn't just my dad embarrassing me to her. No, this was so much more than that. "At least he hung them up himself saying how proud he was of you every single time. Who didn't care what color the medal was, just that you did your best and it's because of him. You might think it's embarrassing, but I think you're lucky" she claims.

I walk over to her and hug her from behind. "Leave it to you to humble me even on a day dedicated to me" I tease.

"That's what good girlfriends do" she smirks.

After we get that over with we head to the towns center where they give me a key to the city. Kind of crazy that I got the key to the city for playing hockey, but hockey is kinda a big deal around here. There's not a lot of guys who get to win it all. There's been great players who never held the cup above their head. But because I did I now get a key to the city, crazy if you really think about it.

After that presentation we hold a little parade so everyone who wanted to could see the cup. I sit on a car with the trophies and wave at friends who came out to support. I take pictures and give high fives to ask many of the kids as I can. I talk to the aspiring little hockey players and try to let them know that I was once in their shoes. They can see where hard work and determination can get them should they stay focused on their dreams.

After spending hours on the street we go to the newly named Jonathan Toews Community Center where I grew up in. That's where I started learning to play, where I got my love for the game. This was home. To have this place be dedicated to me meant the world to me. Now I can help other kids follow their own path and maybe be the next person to bring it back to Winnipeg.

So we get to the front of the building and there were a bunch of kids waiting to see me. I walk through the crowd and talk to as many kids as possible. I have pictures of me with my idols up in my room and maybe the next Wayne Gretzky is going to be out there with his picture of him and I up on his wall from today. And maybe years from now when they ask him who his favorite player was growing up it'll be me.

After talking to everyone and doing my due diligence we lace up and hit the ice. For me it's the first time since we won the cup and for Rachel this is the first time since she hurt her knee a few months ago.  I was excited to be able to do some drills with old friends and new friends alike. This community center is already better than when I was a kid and I know it can help a lot of people. I was honored that they named this place after me.

"God I hope I don't blow my knee up again" she begs as she slips and slides.

"I got you" I say as I grab her hips. I help her gain her footing as she glides across the ice. She finds the ground and eventually I let her go a little so I can skate next to her. I slip my hand in here as we skate around.

"This city sure does love you. I heard they named a lake after you" she admits and I laugh.

"They act like I'm the prime minister around here, it's crazy" I laugh.

"I think it's great. They treat you like a god here, and you deserve it" she claims.

"Nuh Uh..." I trail off. "If I can't tell you how great you are then you can't say that to me" I pout.

"Oh come on! None of this is possible without you. You mean the world to this community. Sure hockey is a big part of this country but you're a big part of hockey now. Without you this city would be so boring. There's no Jonathan Toews day and no parade or community center. And sure the Lake they named after you might be a bit of a over kill but that just proves that you're a special guy. They don't give just anyone lakes" she argues.

"And if you were on the stage I was on and people could see what I see every morning when I wake up I promise that you would have a Lake too. Hell, I would give you the whole Mississippi" I insist.

"Sorry but the Rachel River is never going to be a thing" she giggles.

"Probably not. But it should be" I defend.

"I think that the people in this city needed someone like you. Look around at what you were able to do here. You were just trying to be the best you you could be and now you have the chance to make a difference. And not just putting your name on a hunk of metal. I'm talking