Carolina Hurricanes goalie Brandon Bussi, a native of Sound Beach, will bring the Stanley Cup to The Rinx ice arena in Hauppauge on Wednesday, marking a return to the place where he first donned goalie gear. Bussi, who made his NHL debut in October and recorded a 3-0 shutout in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final against the Vegas Golden Knights, is the first Suffolk County native to win the trophy.
The Stanley Cup will be on public display at The Rinx from 10:15 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. Bussi will also be recognized as the inaugural Suffolk Sports Person of the Year by the county's sports hall of fame at the arena. He expressed his hope that seeing the Cup will inspire the next generation of hockey players.
In the evening, Bussi plans to honor Rob Scuderi, the first Long Islander to win the Stanley Cup. Bussi will bring the trophy to Bracco's on the Nautical Mile in Freeport, where Scuderi, a defenseman who won with the Penguins in 2009 and the Kings in 2014, celebrated his victories. Scuderi, now an assistant coach for the Predators, expressed his gratitude for Bussi's gesture, calling it "incredibly generous."
Scuderi, who grew up on Long Island and played high school hockey there, chose the Freeport restaurant in 2009 because the area held personal significance. He emphasized the importance of sharing such achievements with the community that shaped a player.
Bussi and the Stanley Cup are scheduled to be at Bracco's from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., with Bussi anticipating sharing the celebratory atmosphere before the preseason begins.
