FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Seth Jones`s most distinct childhood memory takes him back to being six years old, sitting 12 rows up and a mile high in the stands.
The entire Popeye Jones family was there that particular night to see Joe Sakic in action. Young Seth, naturally positioned just above the blue line in the lower bowl of Denver`s Pepsi Center, watched as the captain of his favorite team was presented with the 2001 Stanley Cup following an arduous Game 7.
“Sakic passing the Cup to Ray Bourque. I think there aren`t many more special moments we`ve witnessed in this league,” says Jones, who is now playing in his inaugural Stanley Cup Final for the Florida Panthers.
“That event truly served as a turning point, not exclusively for me but for numerous children in Colorado and within that youth hockey community, inspiring them to participate in the sport.”
The hockey world was largely astonished when the Panthers acquired defenseman Seth Jones from the Blackhawks. The accomplished blueliner shared insights into why Chicago wasn`t the ideal situation for him and how he successfully integrated into Florida`s roster, joining the team that was the reigning Stanley Cup champion at the time of the trade.
