By: Nick Liard

It was quite the scene at the T.M. Davies arena in Lively earlier today as Stanley Cup champion Andrew Desjardins came home with the cup.

Hundreds of people came out to see the Chicago Blackhawks forward who won the cup in his first season with the Hawks.

The native of Lively started the day off at the Sixth Avenue Park, right down the street from where he grew up playing hockey.

Desjardins, his wife Mandy and their son Ames then went to the T.M. Davies arena where they were greeted by hundreds of fans waiting for a chance to meet him and the Stanley Cup.

Desjardins says it’s all starting to sink in now, and he was overwhelmed with the support from the community today, as well as during his cup run.

His mother Linda says the community he grew up in was extremely supportive and it means a lot to be able to give back.

The event at T.M. Davies Arena was free but donations were being collected for the Walden and Sudbury Food Banks, and Andrew also announced the proceeds of his annual golf tournament would go to a permanent ice pad to the Sixth Avenue Park in Lively.