LEWISTON, N.Y. — Rick Dudley has dedicated his life to hockey and, on Tuesday, he wanted to give back by sharing the Stanley Cup with the community he calls home.

Dudley, a senior adviser to Bill Zito, the general manager of the Florida Panthers, made a special visit to Griffon Brewery and Gastropub, which boasts a picturesque view of the Niagara River. An iconic trophy accompanied Dudley, and it was carefully placed on a table for fans to capture memorable photos with both Dudley and the prestigious Cup. The excitement was evident as fans began arriving more than an hour and a half before the scheduled festivities. A long line promptly formed inside the establishment, extending beyond the entrance and down the sidewalk.

Dudley expressed his happiness in being able to give back and acknowledged that he has resided in this place for most of his life. He honestly admitted that this is the first opportunity he has had to truly contribute and give something back.

Among the many dressed in Buffalo Sabres attire, there were quite a few Panthers fans of all ages patiently waiting for their turn.

Dudley expressed that once you emerge as the victor, you come to appreciate the true magnitude of its iconic status due to the various events that revolve around it. He further added that people are almost overwhelmed by its presence.

After serving as the General Manager from 2002-2004, the 75-year-old individual has returned for his second tenure with the Panthers, where he has been for the past four seasons. Additionally, his extensive experience in NHL front offices includes positions with the Carolina Hurricanes, Montreal Canadiens, Toronto Maple Leafs, Atlanta Thrashers, Chicago Blackhawks, Tampa Bay Lightning, and Ottawa Senators.

After leading the Sabres for three seasons, Dudley transitioned to a managerial role. However, he returned to the position of head coach as a midseason replacement during his initial tenure in Florida.

Over a span of six seasons, he accumulated a total of 309 NHL games, with the majority (279) being played with Buffalo and the remaining (30) with the original Winnipeg Jets.

Despite winning championships in other sports and at lower levels, he has never been able to secure the Stanley Cup. His nearest encounter was back in 1975, when he played for the Sabres and they lost in the Final to the Philadelphia Flyers after six games.

Dudley expressed, “Since the age of five, or whenever thoughts start to form, if you’re into hockey, the Stanley Cup is always on your mind. From the moment I held a hockey stick, I must have envisioned scoring the winning goal in the Stanley Cup a countless number of times. Now that I am actually a part of it, it feels incredibly significant. I am at a loss for words to describe this feeling.”

Dudley admitted he was nervous as Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final went on until Sam Reinhart scored the go-ahead goal with under five minutes to go in the third period. He said it was a “sense of satisfaction” when the final horn sounded.

Then came the moment when he finally got to hoist the Cup. Zito had former NHL forward Patric Hornqvist, now a consultant with the team, bring Dudley over so the GM could hand it to him.

Dudley expressed, “He was fully aware of his actions. He anticipated my appearance on national television. It was a remarkable experience. I received numerous texts from people who had seen me. It was truly incredible. The fact that ‘Billy’ showed such concern for my prominence in that moment is quite impressive.”