Nico Sturm is the fifth German ice hockey professional to win the Stanley Cup. The 27-year-old helped the Colorado Avalanche win the NHL’s sixth playoff final at defending champions Tampa Bay Lightning 2-1, giving the Denver club a 4-2 win in the best-of-seven series. For the Avalanche it is the third championship title after 1996 and 2001.
Sturm, who was traded from Minnesota Wild to Denver just three months ago, clocked 5:43 ice time in the deciding game. He got his hands on the coveted trophy as the 17th Avalanche player after Captain Gabriel Landeskog. Landeskog paid tribute to some players, including Sturm, who are more in the second row: “These guys make it really difficult for the opponents. They wanted it so badly and did whatever was necessary.”
Nathan MacKinnon, who shone with a goal and assist, played the leading role in the decisive game. “Incredible, it’s crazy,” said MacKinnon, “I can’t wait to hug my family.” Landeskog added: “Dreamed, wanted and worked for over 20 years – now, after many crazy years, everything is finally paying off.”
Colorado defenseman Cale Makar of Canada received the Conn Smythe Trophy for Most Valuable Player of the Playoffs. Previously, only Avalanche players Joe Sakic (1996) and goalie Patrick Roy (2001) had that honor.
26 years ago, Uwe Krupp Colorado shot to the Stanley Cup triumph – as the first German. The later national coach was also part of the victorious Detroit Red Wings squad in 2002, but was not on the ice in the finals. After that, Dennis Seidenberg was successful with the Boston Bruins in 2011, Tom Kühnhackl in 2016 and 2017 with the Pittsburgh Penguins and Philipp Grubauer in 2018 with the Washington Capitals.