Although the real purpose was to mark Canada’s 146th birthday, the Village of Clyde’s July 1st parade ended up also recognizing a historic hockey moment.
The parade, which included close to 15 entrants, wound its way through the village, and was capped off by Jim Rau and Barb Carbert riding in an open convertible with a replica Stanley Cup to mark the Chicago Blackhawks’ win over the Boston Bruins a week earlier.
Many of the entries in the parade were covered with some sort of Blackhawks or other hockey paraphernalia, giving a Canadian celebration a decidedly Chicago feeling.
This is not the first time Rau has done something like this.
In 2010, he quickly put together a parade to mark the Blackhawks’ first Stanley Cup win since 1961.
“When Chicago won after, what was it, 50 years?” he asked nostalgically.
“I thought they deserved something because I’ve been a fan of theirs forever.”
With the Blackhawks once again winning the Stanley Cup on June 24 this year, he questioned whether to hold another parade.
But with the village running a parade, along with a wiener roast and fireworks display, he decided to add his Blackhawks garb to the mix “because we had it and because I wanted to.”
Even then, he was a bit hesitant.
“You kind of lose something having a hockey parade in July,” Rau said.
Had the stars aligned, the festivities could have been more dramatic, he added.
“I had plans to bring (former Blackhawks goalie) Glenn Hall out and surprise everybody, but he’s too shy,” Rau said.
