As one of the hottest stars in the National Hockey League, Sam Reinhart knows how to light up an arena.
But did you know that he once set his family home on fire?
That’s why Reinhart brought the Stanley Cup to Fire Station No. 4 in West Vancouver on Monday, to show his appreciation to the firefighters there, as part of his hometown tour with the coveted playoff trophy.
On a November night nearly two decades ago, Reinhart and his brothers Max and Griffin were settling the score in a household edition of WrestleMania. As a safety measure, the boys put a futon against a wall, which eventually backfired when the baseboard heater set it aflame.
Reinhart’s mom Theresa said she came home to a house filled with smoke, and called 911. Firefighters from the local station arrived soon afterwards, and quickly knocked down the blaze.
“Luckily, they were able to save the structure of the house,” Reinhart said.
During Monday’s visit, Reinhart donned a firefighter hat and took photos with a grinning crew of local heroes, as “a little props for them and a little thank you, for sure,” he said.
It was a heartwarming reunion, said Assistant Fire Chief Jason Nesseth.
“It’s remarkable that almost two decades after we responded to an incident at their family home, the Reinharts still hold such deep gratitude for our service,” he said. “Their visit was incredibly meaningful.”
'You can never take days like this for granted,' Reinhart says
With the Stanley Cup landing in Vancouver a day ahead of schedule, Reinhart also made an impromptu visit to Hollyburn Country Club, where his hockey journey began. Reinhart then visited patients at BC Children’s Hospital and Ronald McDonald House BC.
Reinhart has co-ordinated with the District of West Vancouver to take the Cup on a boat parade along Centennial Seawalk Tuesday afternoon, followed by a celebration at the Beach House Restaurant in Dundarave. Full details about Tuesday's public appearances can be found in this article.
When his father Paul played for the Canucks in the late 1980s, coach Pat Quinn used to say that he wanted good citizens on his team, Theresa recalled.
“And that was always what we used to say to our kids: You have to be good citizens,” she said. “And if you ask anyone, they’ll always say he’s the nicest kid in the league.”
Reinhart said that his home of West Vancouver is where it all started for him.
“So you can never take days like this for granted,” he said. “You see the excitement. And certainly bringing [the Stanley Cup] back to Canada is pretty cool.”
And while he’s won hockey’s top trophy two years in a row playing for the Florida Panthers, an American team, next year he wants to win for Team Canada.
“The Olympics is certainly on the mind,” Reinhard said. “[I’m] excited about that opportunity as well.”
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