FREEPORT, NY — There are certain days in hockey that are just bigger than the game itself.
Wednesday was one of those days on Long Island.
Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Brandon Bussi brought the Stanley Cup home, first celebrating at The Rinx in Hauppauge before taking hockey’s most famous trophy down to the Nautical Mile and Bracco’s in Freeport.
Bussi became the first Long Island native to win the Stanley Cup since Rob Scuderi in 2012, giving the area something it hadn’t experienced in quite some time.
But being there Wednesday, what stood out to me most was who showed up.