2010 REWIND: The Celebration Begins

Humble and hardworking, Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews is used to winning. Prior to turning pro, Toews had already collected four gold medals in international competition with Team Canada. Then in 2010, he earned an Olympic gold medal in his home country, was named MVP of the playoffs and won the Stanley Cup. But even Toews wasn't 100 percent convinced that the Blackhawks had won the Cup until it was brought onto the ice.

"It happened so fast. You wanted to be everywhere at once and with every single guy," says Toews. "There are only so many things you can do to grasp that moment."

The Stanley Cup victory celebration started with just one guy, Patrick Kane, because he was the only person who was absolutely sure that his goal was safely tucked into the Flyers net.

"We wanted it to be true, but we weren't going to give it a full-hearted celebration until we knew that it was in fact a goal," Toews says. "I remember leaning over because I was tired from the shift, and I was looking at the Jumbotron, and it was really unclear to me whether the puck went in or not."

2010 REWIND

**ROUNDTABLE**: Burish, Sharp & Campbell

**ON THE TAPE**: Kane's Cup Clincher

**2010 REWIND**: Inside the Game-Winner

**2010 REWIND**: Oh, What a Night!

**2010 REWIND**: The Summer of Stanley

After a few stunned seconds and a couple of replays later, the reality sunk in and a joyful Kane, who was shedding equipment as he pumped his arms and skated down the ice, was joined by all of his teammates. It took a few more instant replays to convince Blackhawks fans that yes, the championship drought was over. And yes, the celebration could begin.

"It was a weird moment," recalls Toews, who still had doubts until he actually held the Cup. "Then I knew they weren't going to take it away from us, that it was real and actually happening."

After congratulating Blackhawks ownership and management, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman announced: "Jonathan Toews, come hoist the Stanley Cup."

The Cup, starting with Toews, was lifted, kissed and passed from player to player. Marian Hossa got it second; after the Slovak superstar lost the Cup finals two years in a row, Toews couldn't wait to pass it on to the veteran who bet everything on this young Hawks team. The third guy to get it was former Flyer and alternate captain Patrick Sharp.

Players were quickly joined by moms, dads, wives and kids who were flown to Philadelphia by the organization to enjoy the game. Chicago fans moved down toward the ice to cheer their heroes, and Sharp skated with the Cup in front of the glass to share the victory with them.

The party and the Cup then moved from the ice to the locker room, where coach Joel Quenneville, General Manager Stan Bowman and President John McDonough, dressed in suits, were soaked with champagne.

"That was a special moment," said Toews of the locker room celebration with teammates, coaches, family and front office personnel. "It was absolutely amazing."