Ethan Geibel, 10, of Center Township getting a high five from Pittsburgh Penguins star Evgeni Malkin at the team's victory parade Wednesday in downtown Pittsburgh.

PITTSBURGH — Butler County residents joined an estimated 650,000 hockey fans from all over Western Pennsylvania and beyond in downtown Pittsburgh on Wednesday to welcome the Stanley Cup champion Penguins home.

Carlie Comer of Lyndora waited for the parade near Point State Park in a sea of Penguins shirts. Comer was thrilled at the turnout for the victory parade.

“It's amazing to see all the support for the team and that fans set aside time to come out here and celebrate,” Comer said. “It's like a giant family.”

While a Penguins fan herself, Laurie Coyne of Butler went to the parade because her daughter is a huge fan.

Coyne said in addition to excelling at hockey, the Penguins players are good examples for the young men and women who idolize them.

“They're respectable men and as a team, you don't see them getting into scandals,” Coyne said. “They follow (team owner and former player) Mario Lemieux's example.”

Another excited local at the parade was Ethan Geibel, 10, of Center Township who was able to high-five one of his favorite players.

“Evgeni Malkin was carrying the Cup down the road and he gave it to (Chris) Kunitz,” Ethan recalled. “When he ran back to get into his truck, he ran by me and I high-fived him.”

Dawson Wallace, 11, of Hilliards got a chance to meet Pittsburgh Penguins goalie Matt Murray after the Stanley Cup parade Wednesday.