TRURO - Kathy Sutherland was proud Thursday night as she watched her brother hoist hockey's holy grail.
Al MacIsaac, 42, is the senior director of hockey administration and the assistant to Chicago Blackhawks president John McDonough.
"I grew up in a hockey family so the Stanley Cup was always something we knew was important," Sutherland told the Truro Daily News on Thursday. "But when you see a family member actually hold it and hoist it, it's kind of a shock. It's almost unbelievable."
The Blackhawks defeated the Philadelphia Flyers 4-3 in overtime Wednesday night to claim their fourth Stanley Cup, but first since 1960-61.
"The cup is coming to our hometown this summer, so we're pretty pumped," said Sutherland, an Antigonish native and Truro resident.
MacIsaac has been with the Blackhawks organization for 10 years and has served in his current role since December 2008. He was a 12th-round draft pick of the Buffalo Sabres in 1987.
He played and won championships in the East Coast and American hockey leagues. He was also a part of a championship Memorial Cup team while playing junior hockey for the Guelph Platers in 1986 on a team that featured Steve Chiasson, Gary Roberts and Kerry Huffman.
This won't be the first time an Antigonish native has brought the cup home. Former NHL player Paul MacLean was an assistant coach with the Detroit Red Wings in 2007-08.
jmalloy@trurodaily.com
