Showing off

Devils' Niedermayer brings Cup home to B.C. to celebrate

CRANBROOK, British Columbia (AP) -- New Jersey Devils defenseman Scott Niedermayer brought the Stanley Cup to his hometown Saturday, hoping to boost the morale of hundreds of firefighters battling a nearby wildfire.

"If this will put a smile for a minute that will be good," Niedermayer said. "That's tough work they're doing, long days. So we owe them a lot of thanks for the work that they do."

Many of the 500 firefighters have been contending with the blaze for almost two weeks. Hundreds of locals lined up in a hockey arena to have a snapshot taken beside Niedermayer.

"It gets a little monotonous after 14 days on the fireline," firefighter Tristan Powell said. "We're starting to go a little crazy and it's nice that he's doing this."

Niedermayer, a key player in helping New Jersey beat Anaheim for the Stanley Cup, said it's unsettling watching flames attack the area where he grew up.

"Your house is important," he said. "But it's the family that is most important and I'm sure most people realize that as well."

The cup is on an annual summer odyssey as New Jersey players, coaches and staff take turns with the NHL's championship trophy. The cup, escorted by Hockey Hall of Fame officials, was taken to Alaska by Devils center Scott Gomez and even traveled to Greece.