A Canadian hockey player who faced online Islamophobic harassment slur a few weeks ago has made history as the first Muslim to win the Stanley Cup.
“It is what I worked my whole life for pretty much, so to be in this position … means the world to me,” Nazem Kadri said in comments to “Hockey Night in Canada”, The Toronto Star reported .
“You work your whole life for this and now it is here, so, incredible feeling.”
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Kadri faced online harassment last month after a collision with St. Louis Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington.
While many people sent vile messages against the American Muslim of Lebanese decent, many Avalanche supporters have been sharing messages of support.
Colorado Avalanche star made a major difference for the team in the pursuit of their third Stanley Cup championship on Sunday. He also delivered the Game 4 game-winner against the Tampa Bay Lightning earlier.
Inspiration
After undergoing thumb surgery, Kadri played Sunday game with a special glove designed to protect it.
“Such a roller-coaster ride in terms of emotions. Break my hand. I think I’m done. I came back and I couldn’t even tie my own skates,” he said.
“Shout-out to the trainer, tying my skates before every game. I don’t care. Whatever it took, I was going to be out here one way or another.”
Kadri’s win was an inspiration to many Muslim kids who felt they can live the ultimate Canadian dream and win that Stanley Cup.
Dreams coming true 💭 pic.twitter.com/c6EzDBQ92Z
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) June 27, 2022
“You look at him and he is a huge inspiration for us,” a young Muslim kid told CBC News.
“I know all of us can win a Stanley Cup, you just need to try hard,” another kid added. “It would make me feel I can do it,” a third one said.
Commissioned in 1892, the Stanley Cup is the oldest existing trophy to be awarded to a professional sports franchise in North America.
The International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) considers it to be one of the “most important championships available to the sport”.
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