GUELPH, Ontario -- Rich Peverley's time with the Stanley Cup began in the basement of his home, where his family gathered to take professional photographs with the world's most well known still life.

"Well I’m just enjoying some time now, alone [at home]," he said when BostonBruins.com visited Guelph this morning.

"When I first came here I spent some time with the family and then the whole circus came to town and we got all of our family here and getting pictures," continued the forward. "Then we’re going to head to the rink downtown and we’re going to bring it to the city and hopefully everybody in the city is able to enjoy it.

"Then, I'll have a little private get together later just for family and friends."

But like his predecessors on this Ontario swing with Stanley -- Nathan Horton, Shawn Thornton and Daniel Paille -- Peverley sought to give back to the hockey-loving community. So before that private affair, Peverley invited some 2300 friends to the local arena, Guelph's Sleeman Centre, the home of the OHL's Guelph Storm.

"We’re going to the major/junior arena," said Peverley when asked why make the indoor stop. "I just felt that, especially on a [cloudy] day like today, I was kind of prepared if it was raining and we could get as many people in as possible.

"We just wanted to have everyone get a chance to see it."

And see it they did. Fans lined the floor of the rink, everyone who entered the arena came away with Peverley's autograph and a picture and a having been able to touch the Cup.

"I was really nervous last night and nervous just for the day," said Peverley even before the Cup left for the rink. "So, once it got here this morning I was so excited and I just kind of had a permanent smile on my face.

"It’s been a lot of fun."

However, Peverley chose to keep the rest of his day for his closest, most beloved fans.

"Well, for my family it’s been [a long season]. My wife and my daughter, they go through a lot throughout the playoffs and my wife does a lot," he said. "To have a little bit of alone time with her is important and her parents and my parents, they both contribute a lot of their time to help us throughout the year, especially this year getting traded.

"I think it’s important that they’re recognized and get a little bit of time to spend some time with it, too."

Asked whether the Bruins short summer was a mixed bag for him, particularly with training camp looming larger and larger on the horizon, Peverley was quick to say, "Well I’m just looking at it as good, I’m not really going to take it as bad. I’d rather be playing than working out.

"I came here and we started working out but I’m enjoying the summer. We still have a little bit of time left and you just have to let your mind rest.

"It’s a long season and hopefully the same for next year," he said.