After a brief stop for lunch, Staal and his entourage roll into the Thunder Bay Christian Academy, a private Christian school Staal attended through his elementary school years.
The parking lot is soon filled and a line of 200 or so snakes along the building where Staal played as a youngster. Staal, the model of patience and politeness, signs everything from coffee mugs to shirts to pictures.
Among those in attendance is a young girl with a T-shirt that features a picture of Staal and the slogan, "Eric Staal is my homeboy."
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A few minutes later, the Cup is sitting on the front lawn of Staal's paternal grandparents, his Oma and Opa.
"There it is, Opa. Sweet, eh?" Staal tells his grandfather, John.
Everyone wants to know where Staal's name is, but he explains the Canes' names are being etched on a new ring that will be added to the Cup in the fall.
"Where's Oma?" Staal asks. Someone jokes that she's in the house making soup for everyone. On cue, Lammie Staal runs out onto the front lawn.
"That's me, always late," Staal's grandmother says. "So that's the Cup."
For a moment, there is an almost awkward silence as the elder Staals peer at the trophy as though it's a meteorite they discovered on their lawn. Soon Staal's maternal grandparents (Linda's parents John and Riek) arrive.
"Now, it's complete," Lammie says.
Staal recalls how his grandparents used to watch him play minor hockey, giving him a dollar every time he scored until it became too expensive to do so. Linda's parents recall literally jumping for joy while watching the seventh game of the Stanley Cup finals.
"With tears running down our eyes," Staal's grandfather says.
"We moeten ons bewust zijn van de superioriteit van onze beschaving, met zijn normen en waarden, welvaart voor de mensen, respect voor mensenrechten en godsdienstvrijheid. Dat respect bestaat zeker niet in de Islamitische wereld".