On 'Scott Darling Day,' Goalie Brings Stanley Cup Home to Lemont

They lined the walkways outside Lemont Park District’s The CORE as early as 5:15 a.m. They stood through a drizzle, then a steady rain. Some had lunch delivered as they peered toward the road, anxious for a glimpse of their hometown hockey hero Scott Darling, and that sparkling Stanley Cup.

The fans couldn’t wait to see ”Lemont’s Darling.”

The Chicago Blackhawks goalie brought the beloved trophy home Monday, June 29, as thousands cheered and shouted for him to hoist the Cup. And he didn’t disappoint. The 26-year-old Lemont native waved to fans and lifted the pinnacle of professional hockey above his head for his hometown to see.

Once inside, Lemont Mayor Brian Reaves unveiled a proclamation in Darling’s name, proclaiming June 29, 2015, “Scott Darling Day,” and displaying a street sign renaming 4th Street, where Scott grew up, as honorary Scott Darling Drive. Darling is the only Chicago-area native to play for the Blackhawks and go on to win the Stanley Cup.

“Today’s turnout was incredible. In the rain, threat of rain ... it really truly shows how well Lemont supports one of its own,” said Lemont Mayor Brian Reaves. “To be able to take time out of his day with family and friends, to come back to Lemont to share it with the people of Lemont, truly shows you what kind of person Scott is, that he wants to give back to the community, and he really is doing that. It’s a special day.”

The day was more than anything Darling or his family could have expected when the 6-foot-6 goalie signed with the Blackhawks. He played in 14 regular season games and five postseason contests in the opening round against Nashville, where he notched three wins.

“When Scott signed with the Blackhawks a year ago, I said, ‘You know what this means, right? You have a chance to win the Stanley Cup,’“ said his father, also named Scott. “It’s one of the first things I said to him. And it’s happened. I think Scotty said to somebody, it’s like a Disney movie. And it really is.”

From the first time he put on a pair of skates on a pond in Washington with his father, to the final buzzer of the championship game, hockey has been quite the ride for the Darling family.

“It was magical. And the crowd, the energy. It was surreal,” said Darling’s father. “Scott along this journey has recognized when he has an opportunity, to make the most of them. He’s grabbed those opportunities when they were presented to him, and he has performed very well.”

“This is where I spent a lot of my life,” Darling said, of bringing the Cup home. “...I went to school at Old Quarry, have my family here ... to be in the streets where I used to ride my bike, and hang out, see people so excited to have me here, is pretty amazing. ... It means a lot to share it with someone else. This whole year from start to finish, it’s been unbelievable.”

After a short break, the team will be back in training, and Darling will be ready to return to the net.

“This is what you dream about. This is the pinnacle of what we work for. It’s absolutely amazing. ... I’m as hungry as ever. I want to stay here, I want to be here for a long time.”