Fansided

Bringing the Stanley Cup to Mälmo is a dream for both Burakovskys

By Kelsey Grace Pfeifer

WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 9: Andre Burakovsky of the Washington Capitals looks on in the second period against the Vancouver Canucks at Capital One Arena on January 9, 2018 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 9: Andre Burakovsky of the Washington Capitals looks on in the second period against the Vancouver Canucks at Capital One Arena on January 9, 2018 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

Since Robert Burakovsky’s NHL run in the early 1990s, the Burakovsky family has wanted to bring the Stanley Cup to Mälmo, Sweden, for the first time. Now his son, Andre, is fulfilling that dream.

In the aftermath of the Washington Capitals’ Stanley Cup victory, every video of Andre Burakovsky features a man in the background, smiling. He’s shorter than Andre, more built, less lanky, but wears the same brown eyes, nose, and crooked smile. His beard is more substantial than the younger Burakovsky’s. On his face is a look of pride… one different from his son’s pure euphoria.

Throughout the rest of the postseason celebrations, Robert Burakovsky was often a stone’s throw away from his son, Andre, a left winger for the victorious Capitals.

Andre was absent for most of the playoffs with an injury, but his return in the third round was unforgettable. His two goals in Round 3, Game 7 will go down in history as one of the most miraculous comebacks of the season.

More from Washington Capitals

Robert Burakovsky was the one who began the Burakovsky’s NHL legacy, playing for the Ottawa Senators before returning home to Sweden to coach and raise his children.

Though born during Robert’s time playing in Austria, Andre was raised a Swede through and through. Robert coached his junior teams, pushed him to join the NHL, and was sat right next to him when he was drafted 23rd overall by the Capitals in 2013.

So when the Stanley Cup travels to Mälmo for the first time ever on August 9, it will be a matter of hometown pride for both Andre and Robert.

They both worked for this dream. Their entire family did. Andre immortalized their support by tattooing their birthdates on his left arm alongside the words “Stanley Cup Champions 06-07-2018.”

In an interview with www.expressen.se (and translated from Swedish by NovaCaps), Andre was asked if he remembered what the first thing he said to his father after they won was. His answer?

“No, no idea.”

Thankfully, Robert had a much clearer recollection, “Yes, you said, ‘Dad, we did it, I love you.'”

Home/Washington Capitals