Berube celebrates Blues' championship with Cup, fans from 'Gloria' bar
Coach has parade in adopted hometown outside Philadelphia
by Adam Kimelman @NHLAdamK / NHL.com Deputy Managing Editor
NEW HOPE, Pa. -- Craig Berube had a Stanley Cup parade Thursday in his adopted hometown with some adopted St. Louis Blues fans from the area.
The Blues coach was joined by members of The Jacks NYB social club in Philadelphia, where the "Play Gloria" phenomenon began in January when St. Louis started using the 1982 Laura Branigan hit "Gloria" as its victory song.
Berube, a former Philadelphia Flyers forward and coach, said he wanted to make sure The Jacks members were included in the celebration because it was the closest the Cup would be to Philadelphia, about 40 miles away.
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"They supported the guys all playoffs, which is great," he said. "I think it's a cool thing that happened there. They're big supporters of us, of our team, of our players. So having them here was pretty cool. I appreciate everything they do."
Berube had a Cup celebration July 2 in Calahoo, Alberta, where he was born, but said he wanted to do something special for fans in the town where he's lived for more than 15 years.
"It's been great," Berube said. "I've got a lot of fans here, lot of family and friends. When I can share it with them it's a pretty cool experience."
His day started with a private event at Triumph Brewing Company followed by a parade through the city. Berube and his family rode on the back of a truck with the Cup. The parade ended back at Triumph, where about 600 fans paid $10 apiece for pictures with Berube and the trophy. Berube also had private events later in the day planned for Lookaway Golf Club, a private course in nearby Buckingham, and another restaurant in New Hope.
Following the Berubes in the parade was a second truck with The Jacks members, Flyers fans who walk as a group in the annual Mummers Parade in Philadelphia on New Year's Day. On Jan. 6, five Blues players -- forwards Robby Fabbri, Jaden Schwartz and Alexander Steen, and defensemen Robert Bortuzzo and Joel Edmundson -- went to The Jacks' bar to watch the NFL playoff game between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Chicago Bears. The Jacks were playing "Gloria" that day because it was their victory song to celebrate winning their division at the Mummers Parade.
The next day, Blues goalie Jordan Binnington won his first NHL start 3-0 at the Flyers to begin St. Louis' remarkable run to the Stanley Cup. The Blues were last in the NHL standings when play began Jan. 3.
"This is a once-in-a-lifetime experience," said Pete Bronca, a member of The Jacks. "This will never happen to us again, taking a team from last to first to the Stanley Cup, with our song. We won first place with it with the Mummers and they won first place with our song."
"Gloria" was heard again Thursday, at Triumph and a few times during the mile-plus parade.
In addition to marching, The Jacks donated items that had been given to the club during the Cup run for a charity auction. Money raised from the auction was given to Couture for a Cure, a fashion show organized by Dominique Pino, Berube's girlfriend, that raises money for breast cancer survivors.
"It was really awesome how the whole story matriculated from when the teams played in early January," Pino said. "It's hard not to make them a part of it when they've been a part of the history, the story."
Thursday felt like one final chance for The Jacks to celebrate as Blues fans. Mike Montecalvo, brigade captain for The Jacks, said the group's focus will now shift to preparing to defend its title at the Mummers Parade.
But The Jacks' social club remains a tourist destination, with Montecalvo putting the number at 40 to 50 visitors per week.
"People when they come in the club, they tell us we went to go see Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell and The Jacks," he said. "It's very surreal for us to hear that."