Farewell to Fleury
CRANBERRY TWP — Few athletes are worthy of the type of send-off that took place at Dick's Sporting Goods Tuesday evening.
Marc-Andre Fleury is definitely on the short list.
It is expected that Fleury, a goalie for the Pittsburgh Penguins, will be announced today as an expansion draft pick of the Las Vegas Golden Knights.
Droves of Penguins fans showed up for an autograph opportunity and to show the netminder what he has meant to hockey in Pittsburgh and to the region in general.
Fleury signed for 250 fans, some of whom camped out near Dick's Monday night to ensure getting a wristband that allowed them to receive an autograph. Nearly 200 more fans entered Dick's Tuesday with the hopes of catching a glimpse and taking a photo of the outgoing star.
“It's really flattering,” said Fleury shortly before the autograph session began. “I heard there was a lot more, too, waiting in line. It's crazy.”
Fleury, 32, contributed to three Stanley Cup championships during his 13 seasons in Pittsburgh, including one this past season. He won 18 games in the 2016-17 regular season, playing much of the campaign behind the younger Matt Murray. But an injury to Murray in April thrust Fleury into a starting role for the first two rounds of the NHL playoffs. The latter led the Pens to series wins over Columbus and Washington before Murray regained the net during the Eastern Conference finals against Ottawa.
Fleury never said anything negative about playing behind Murray, including during the 2015-16 season when the latter won 15 postseason games on the way to the franchise's fourth Stanley Cup win.
“He's genuine and that's hard to come by these days,” said Cranberry Township resident Ryan Senft, who waited in line with his wife, Denise, and 3-year-old son, R.J., to get two pucks and a goalie stick autographed. “A lot of players are phony and I think a lot of it is brought on by social media.”
Denise said she and her husband have been Penguin fans since 1989, adding, “Fleury is classy. People see that and they respect it.”
Ryan Senft is prepared to see Fleury in a Las Vegas jersey next fall.
“We're waiting for the schedule to come out and we'll be booking a trip to Vegas for when they play Pittsburgh,” he said. “I'll be rooting for the Pens to win, but Fleury should get a standing ovation from Pittsburgh fans.”
Fleury, who first dressed for the Penguins as an 18-year-old in October 2003, was instrumental in Pittsburgh's Stanley Cup win in 2008-09, the team's first league championship in 17 years. He said it hasn't truly sunk in that his days as a Penguin are over.
“Next season, when I stick another jersey on for the first time, that's when it will hit me,” he said.
The Senfts have not only their autographed memorabilia, but pictures to remember their encounter with Fleury.
“It's all about him,” Ryan Senft said, gesturing toward his son, who was clad in Penguin black and gold. “He doesn't know what all of this means now, but if my parents had been able to take me to something like this, it would be something I'd always cherish.”
Fleury commented on how he hopes to be remembered in Pittsburgh.
“I love the game, I gave it my all and I was part of successful teams,” he said. “Pittsburgh is my home and it will be tough to leave.”
More in Professional
