The Stanley Cup was hoisted in West Kelowna on Thursday and greeted by an enthusiastic crowd.

West Kelowna native and Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguin defenceman Justin Schultz brought the cup to town. Each member of the cup-winning team gets one day with the trophy.

“This is the least I could do,” said Schultz. “I grew up here, I played minor hockey here, so it is good to be back. It is pretty fun to bring this big trophy back here.”

With more than 1,000 people lining up for a chance to see the cup and meet Schultz, the NHLer was humbled.

“It is amazing, I really didn't expect this many people to show up,” said Schultz. “It shows how tight this community is, and I am pretty proud to be from here.”

Schultz's parents, who still reside in West Kelowna, beamed with pride.

“This is huge,” said his mom, Kim Schultz. “I am really happy he could bring it back to the community, where he grew up. Seeing the smiles on everybody's faces and these kids, that is what it is all about to me.”

Kim said she tries to keep it all in perspective and keep Justin and the family grounded.

“It is a game, after all, and he just has a different job,” she said. “That is how I look at it, as his mom.”

She took a moment to describe what it felt like when the Penguins won the cup.

“It was surreal, we didn't know what to do,” said Kim. “We were all excited of course, so we just went on to the ice and hugged him, and it was really exciting.”

West Kelowna Mayor Doug Findlater said he's proud to have a champion back on home ice.

“We have a Stanley Cup winner that graduated out of our Westside Minor Hockey program and went through the Warriors on to college and now on to two different professional teams with the NHL,” said Finlater. “It is a good time to celebrate our hockey heritage in West Kelowna. I am really pleased to have Justin here with the cup.”

West Kelowna is producing world-class athletes, he noted.

“We have an olympic swimmer this year heading to Rio, and we have had notable NFL players come through here. We are pleased our programs appear to be working and when someone reaches that world-class level they can bring recognition to the programs here and our community.”

Schultz hung out at Royal LePage Place for several hours Thursday afternoon, signing autographs, posing for photos and celebrating his win.

Photo: Carmen Weld