‘This thing’s a rock star’ J.T. Compher brings the Lord Stanley Cup to Northbrook

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J.T. Compher, 27, a 2013 Glenbrook North High School (GBN) graduate, brought the Stanley Cup to Northbrook on July 15.

The Colorado Avalanche recently clinched the 2022 NHL championship and Stanley Cup. Compher is a center for the Colorado Avalanche.

Compher shared the Stanley Cup at a Friday Northbrook Park District event at the Northbrook Sports Center on the same rink where Compher experienced ice hockey as a Northbrook Bluehawks youth player.

“To be in Northbrook for today is super special to me,” Compher said. “I grew up here, I played all sports here, played hockey in this rink for a long time, just super excited to see everyone that’s helped me get to this point.

“There’s been people that played large roles, small roles, all important though, to make sure I was able to, first, live my dream as a professional hockey player and now as a Stanley Cup champion.

“This is why it feels as good as it does because of the support that I get from people in this town,” Compher said. “That’s what makes it so special, is how many people helped me get here.”

Compher made an afternoon visit with the Stanley Cup to the Landmark Inn Bar and Grille in downtown Northbrook, surprising diners.

Earlier, Compher brought the cup to a Northbrook fire station, then to the 11:15 a.m. sports center where a large turnout awaited.

There, Northbrook Village President Kathryn L. Ciesla presented Compher with a village proclamation featuring a red and white ribbon gold seal, proclaiming July 15, 2022 as J.T. Compher Day.

Also present were Compher’s parents Bob and Valerie Compher plus siblings Morgan Compher, 25, and Jesse Compher, 23, who won an Olympic silver medal with the 2022 U.S. Olympic Women’s Ice Hockey team at last winter’s Olympic Winter Games in Beijing, China.

J.T. Compher’s girlfriend Sydney Badger of Las Vegas, Nevada also attended.

“This is the best part of living in a town like Northbrook where it’s just wholesome, it’s excellent,” Ciesla said.

“A kid, a family, right? … of great athletes, comes back and shares their happiness with us, it’s perfect,” Ciesla said with a smile.

“It’s wonderful, like this is exactly what the town needs and I think especially after recent events in Highland Park, I think it’s really nice to remember but move forward in a positive way,” Ciesla said, referring to the recent mass shooting at the July 4 parade in downtown Highland Park. “I think kids need it, parents need it.”

At the sports center podium, J.T. Compher called for a moment of silence for Highland Park.

The GBN ice hockey team was present along with Northbrook Bluehawks youth athletes.

“What he’s doing is amazing,” said hockey player Ryan Sandler, 16, of Northbrook, a rising junior at GBN.

“Seeing a Northbrook kid like us doing something on a stage this big is great.”

Eli Firsel, 12, of Northbrook, a rising seventh-grader and Northbrook Bluehawks player, said, “I think that it shows people that you can keep chasing your dream.”

J.T. Compher said the Stanley Cup arrived about 8:30 a.m. on Friday at the family’s west Northbrook residence. Compher took the Stanley Cup upstairs to his childhood bedroom during the visit.

His mother Valerie made chocolate chip pancakes, serving the hot cakes with syrup and butter in the top bowl of the Stanley Cup.

“My mom’s made those (chocolate chip pancakes) since we were kids,” J.T. Compher said.

The taste of chocolate chip pancakes from the Stanley Cup, “was really good,” Jesse Compher said.

“It’s nice to have everyone back home.”

While at home that morning, “She (Jesse) put the (silver Olympic) medal around the Stanley Cup and we were talking (about) how many siblings have an Olympic hockey medal and the Stanley Cup.

“We don’t think there’s that many so it’s special and I’m super proud of her,” J.T. Compher added.

Valerie Compher said about chocolate chip pancakes, “It’s the all time family favorite so having to share that in the Stanley Cup, I mean, how could that be bad?

“We all took a fork and we all took bites out of it.”

Bob Compher said, “It’s one of our go-to meals before hockey tournaments,” adding the approximate 10 chocolate chip pancakes that Friday with “no whipped cream, just syrup straight” are, “part of the tradition.”

Photo opportunity donations at the sports center benefited Youth Services of Glenview/Northbrook (of Glenview).

“It’s just awesome to have an event like this with the Stanley Cup in our backyard,” said Amy O’Leary, Youth Services executive director.

J.T. Compher joined the Buffalo Sabres via the second round of the 2013 NHL Draft and was traded to the Colorado Avalanche in 2015. His name will be engraved with the Colorado Avalanche on the bottom rim of the Stanley Cup.

“Sixty years they said it’ll be on there,” J.T. Compher said.

“I still have to pinch myself sometimes.

“It comes in waves, excitement and then it sometimes feels weird to even be by it (Stanley Cup).

“It’s just crazy right now,” Compher added.

“To see how excited people get, kids, grown adults, everyone, their eyes light up and they say how shiny it is,” Compher also said about the Stanley Cup.

“This thing’s a rock star.”

Karie Angell Luc is a freelancer for Pioneer Press.

Here are a few more photos from Friday: