Six Nations of the Grand River is not Oiler country.
On June 15, the community is hosting a watch party at the Six Nations Community Hall on Fourth Line, to cheer on Florida Panthers defenceman Brandon Montour. This Saturday night, that’s a party that could end with Montour lifting the Stanley Cup.
“Join us in cheering on our hometown hero!” a post on the elected council’s Instagram page reads.
Montour and the Panthers were Stanley Cup finalists last year, losing to the Las Vegas Golden Knights in five games. Even though it ended in disappointment for Montour, his family, friends and community members watched and celebrated every moment.
There’s good reason to believe things will be different this time around.
Thursday night, Montour and the Florida Panthers beat the Edmonton Oilers 4-3 to take a 3-0 lead in the best-of-seven title series. With 10 points in 20 games, Montour is tied for fifth among defencemen in scoring this NHL playoff season.
If the series continues past Game 4, there will be watch parties at the hall for the fifth, sixth and seventh games in the series.
“Hopefully Brandon can bring back the Stanley Cup,” Coun. Greg Frazer said on council’s regular radio broadcast last week, noting that there will be signs and memorabilia on sale.
“When I was a kid — I don’t really know the last person from Six Nations to make it to the NHL,” Montour told the CBC after the 2023 season. “I didn’t really have that, but to become neighbours or see me at a lacrosse game. Things of that nature. It gives them that hope, I hope, that they could get there one day as well.”
Montour is one of several players in the final who are from the Hamilton area, including Darnell Nurse, Adam Henrique and Carter Verhaeghe.
The puck drops at 8 p.m. ET on Saturday night.