Stanley Cup dream comes true for long-time resident
Sports
Posted By Kevin Rushworth, Reporter
Posted 1 month ago
Kevin Rushworth photoHugo Civitarese, 88, stands in his old Bellevue barbershop where hockey photos and pucks adorn the walls. Civitarese, a lifelong Chicago Blackhawks fan, has been watching his favourite team for over 70 years and watched them hoist the Stanley Cup after the recent NHL finals. Civitarese went to see Lord Stanley s coveted trophy when it travelled to Lethbridge.
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Eighty-eight year-old Hugo Civitarese, former Bellevue barber, thought he would never see his favourite team, the Chicago Blackhawks, hoist the coveted Stanley Cup again.
After watching and cheering for his team for over 70 years, Civitarese—who has lived in Hillcrest for his entire life—said the circle was completed when the Blackhawks squashed their 49-year cup drought against the Philadelphia Flyers.
When Blackhawks player Kris Versteeg visited his hometown of Lethbridge with the Stanley Cup, over 1,000 fans including Civitarese got a chance to see the famous hockey trophy.
After hearing that the cup would be in Lethbridge, his neighbor invited him on a trip into the city to see Lord Stanley's trophy with his family. Once there, Civitarese said they had to stand outside because of the sheer number of people.
He said holding the trophy was a great experience and he wanted to do it in perfect hockey fashion.
"It felt nice," he said. "If I would have been strong enough, I would have put some booze in it, lifted it up and had a drink."
During his life, Civitarese has watched the team change owners, players and coaches. After starting work in the Bellevue barbershop in 1963, he has shaved and cut hair for nearly as long has his team's drought.
As a Blackhawks fan in Alberta, he spoke of the friendly abuse he has taken and the money lost on wagers. This year, he said Chicago had a great team and showed an increase in both their speed and stick handling.
"I think they are going to be like Edmonton," he said. "They are going to win two or three cups in a row."
During the war, Civitarese was stationed in an aircraft school in 1942. With a friend, they decided to travel to Toronto to see Chicago playing the Maple Leafs. Although he was a fan of the team beforehand, it would be the first live Chicago game he had seen.
When Calgary's Saddledome opened in 1983, Civitarese went to a game and he said it took them 10 hours to drive from the Crowsnest Pass into Calgary due to a bitter winter storm. He remembers the 5-3 victory and still has the ticket stub.
When watching the games on TV at home, Civitarese said he likes to get into the game but that he doesn't go overboard.
"I don't get to a point where I am gong to have a heart attack, but I like to cheer," he said.
During the NHL playoff finale, three quarters of the Crowsnest Pass were cheering for the Blackhawks team because of Civitarese. He said he was glad to see his team win and that he is going to keep on watching the
Chicago Blackhawks.
