When Sam Reinhart scored four goals to lead his Florida Panthers to a victory over the Edmonton Oilers – securing their second-straight Stanley Cup – his parents and brothers from West Vancouver were in the stands. “With his first goal, it was exciting. And then of course scoring the second, let alone the third and fourth, it was, I mean, it’s an amazing experience because the whole building erupted,” said Sam’s dad Paul, describing his son’s standout performance in game six of the series. Last year, when Reinhart scored the game winner in game seven against the Oilers to clinch the cup, his family watched from their living room in West Vancouver. This time, they helped Sam celebrate on the ice after the big win in Florida. “You don’t think when you’re raising kids that this is ever going to happen, but we’re pretty excited about it,” said his mom Theresa. “Both his brothers were here who definitely helped him, with his dad, to get there. So, it was very nice to be here this year.” Sam got his start with the Hollyburn Huskies in West Vancouver. He is the youngest of three sons who all played hockey, just like their dad – who made his own trip to the Stanley Cup Final with the Calgary Flames. “There is the old adage it takes a village and in this instance, I think that Sam would be the first to say it took a family,” Paul said. “It also takes all our friends that became our family in the hockey community because, I mean, they help you drive. We had three boys, three different teams. There was only two of us. It’s a West Van effort,” added Theresa. While Reinhart’s first Stanley Cup win in 2024 was the culmination of a dream, Sam’s dad says this one is special for a different reason. “The second time is in many ways more difficult, because you just realize how hard it is to get there,” said Paul. “To be there three years in a row and to have won at the last two, it is quite an accomplishment for the organization.” Being there in person this time allowed the Reinhart family to be part of a champagne-soaked Stanley Cup celebration. “We’re not as young as we were, but we lasted until four in the morning,” said Paul. But the players outlasted the parents. “They are still going, they’re on two hours sleep, but that’s okay,” said Theresa. The party is continuing Wednesday night in south Florida at a restaurant with its own link to the West Coast. “The new Earls just opened up here tonight. So, the whole team is going taking the cup, and the families, coaches, players are all going over to Earls, their spot down here, and we’re going to celebrate again tonight,” said Paul. Last year, when Sam had his day with the cup, he brought it back to Hollyburn Country Club where it all began. At some point this summer, the now two-time champ will get a chance to bring it home again.
