Czech Republic throws Avs playoff hero Francouz a Stanley Cup parade

The Colorado Avalanche don’t win the 2022 Stanley Cup without backup goalie Pavel Francouz.

“Frankie” was brilliant for the Avs in the playoffs, posting a 6-0 record in relief of Darcy Kuemper. Francouz saw action in every series but the St. Louis one, earning two wins against Nashville in Round 1 after Kuemper’s eye injury and all four win against the Oilers in the Western Conference Final. He also relieved Kuemper in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final against Tampa Bay.

And while Francouz was showered with love at the Avalanche’s parade in downtown Denver, he got an even better parade on Friday in the Czech Republic. Each player gets a day with the Stanley Cup, and Francouz spent his in his native country.

The fine folks at Eurolanche, a group of awesome Avs fans from Europe, captured all the fun on Twitter. Check it out:

Pavel Francouz brings the @StanleyCup to Pilsen, Czechia. #Avs pic.twitter.com/f34gXvDAs3

— Eurolanche 🇺🇦 (@Eurolanche) July 22, 2022

Francouz brings the @StanleyCup to the Pilsner Urquell brewery in the US army vehicle with the Normandy license plate. The city of Pilsen is the only place in the former Czechoslovakia that was liberated by US forces in 1945. #Avs @RadioMoser pic.twitter.com/tT5RNOpxOd

— Eurolanche 🇺🇦 (@Eurolanche) July 22, 2022

All the Small Things in Pilsen at the Francouz’s @StanleyCup parade. #Avs pic.twitter.com/oEcENiQANx

— Eurolanche 🇺🇦 (@Eurolanche) July 22, 2022

Pavel Francouz’s @StanleyCup parade has began. #Avs pic.twitter.com/9hN0NSJ9Al

— Eurolanche 🇺🇦 (@Eurolanche) July 22, 2022

Pavel Francouz on the podium at the @StanleyCup parade. #Avs pic.twitter.com/Q46Bvb4PzT

— Eurolanche 🇺🇦 (@Eurolanche) July 22, 2022

I can confirm the @Avalanche are already engraved on the @StanleyCup. @keeperofthecup #Avs pic.twitter.com/Ua9RbVAkRS

— Eurolanche 🇺🇦 (@Eurolanche) July 22, 2022

We got the ⁦@StanleyCup⁩. ⁦@keeperofthecup⁩ #Avs pic.twitter.com/u4m3dPLi4t

— Eurolanche 🇺🇦 (@Eurolanche) July 22, 2022

This is why the Stanley Cup is the best trophy in sports. No other piece of hardware is taken all over the world like this. No other championship trophy is as iconic. People will stop and gasp when they see the Cup, and everyone wants a picture.

It also has to be a special day for Francouz. He helped keep the Avalanche rolling along when things got tough for Kuemper, and the team never missed a beat with him in goal. He’ll be back next year, poised to take on potentially an even bigger role after Kuemper left for Washington and the Avs traded for Alexandar Georgiev.

Where will the Stanley Cup head next? Stay tuned.
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