The City of Estevan unveiled a new plaque, commemorating Brayden Pachal, a current NHL player who brought home the Stanley Cup back in 2023. While playing with the Vegas Golden Knights, Pachal was on the winning team and had his name engraved onto the Cup before taking it home for a parade.
While he now plays with the Calgary Flames, Pachal says no matter where he goes, the legacy of Estevan's hockey scene sticks with him.
"I grew up here, and to see the little kids around is hopefully a little bit of motivation for them. It's a great place to grow up, and I just want to thank the city, my family, minor hockey and everybody that made this journey possible for me."
"I think this is just a thing for all the kids, all the youth to walk around the rink and use this kind of as a motivation. Growing up in a small town, you can still have big dreams and you can still do it. So, thank you guys."
The Pachal family is involved with sports in Estevan, with the city's mayor, Tony Sernick, talking about their helping hand.
"Their support reflects the kind of community spirit that shapes champions, not just in sport but also in character. Braden's success is a win for Estevan, and what we are revealing today on the wall of Affinity Place will be a lasting reminder that big dreams can start in small towns."
The plaque itself is a combination of Pachal's history in the southeast, as well as his efforts in higher-tier play.
He talks about some of the pictures kids will be able to see of when he was a part of Estevan Minor Hockey.
"(Top left) would have been an old picture, I think that's in maybe my grandparents' basement. One of my first pairs of skates in my first ever jersey, and then (bottom left) would have been the Atom AA team, second year. That was the year we won with the Raiders and then, of course, the Flames picture too with the Stanley Cup. That painting is incredible. Whoever did that, that's impressive."
Some recognition of Pachal's spirit also came from his NHL team, as Estevan Minor Hockey's Stephen Truman read a statement from Sean Kelso, V.P. of Communications with the Calgary Flames.
"The Calgary Flames are proud to see Braden Pachal recognized in his hometown of Estevan, Saskatchewan. This honour is a testament to Brayden's hard work, dedication and the strong values he brings both on and off the ice. As an organization, we celebrate this special moment with him, his family, and the community of Estevan, who have played a key role in his journey."
"Since joining the Calgary Flames organization in 2024, Brayden has made a positive impact both on and off the ice in Calgary and is a great representative of Estevan. Congratulations to Brayden and his family on the recognition of his success."
Truman himself also had some words for Pachal, saying that the NHLer has always shown the spark that'd carry him to the biggest hockey league in the world.
"From those early days, he showed the kind of drive and determination that will carry him far. We were incredibly fortunate two years ago when Braden was a youngster and brought the Stanley Cup to Saskatchewan and chose to share his special day with all of us. That gesture spoke volumes about his character and his love for this community."
Pachal's plaque is placed next to Ernie "Punch" Mclean and Allan Nicholson, two other big names in Estevan hockey.
In the lead-up to the unveiling, Pachal was actually kept in the dark as to what exactly the city had in store for him, which made it hit all the harder.
"I think my mom kind of kept it a secret, probably for a reason, but this is my first real idea or first time seeing what they put together, and it's made me really emotional. It means so much to get recognized by this community and be a little bit of a motivation for the kids coming up."
Pachal says that so far in the offseason, he's been doing his best to train and relax. He hopes that the coming season will be a great one for the Flames.
"I feel like we were playing really well, and obviously, we wanted to make the playoffs and just missed out. So the goal doesn't change for us going into next year. It's going to be the same thing, a lot of doubters, and it's our job to prove them wrong again."
After the presentation, Pachal participated in a free skate with some of the local Estevan youths.