Brady Keeper returns to Pimicikamak Cree Nation for first time as NHL player, gets hero's welcome



Brady Keeper made NHL history this season as the 22-year-old became the first person from Cross Lake, Manitoba, to suit up in an NHL game. It was an emotional night for Brady and his entire family, and rightfully so, as they watched him take the ice in a Florida Panthers uniform for the very first time.



On Thursday afternoon, Keeper returned to Pimicikamak Cree Nation for the first time since he became an NHL player and he was welcomed back with a hero’s welcome which included a parade and an extremely long line of people cheering him on.



Today, Brady Keeper returned to Pimicikamak Cree Nation for the first time as an NHL player. A joyful parade, a thousand autographs later: a hero’s welcome, for the first Cross Lake athlete to make the show. #wfp pic.twitter.com/mCvU74YBP0 — Melissa Martin (@DoubleEmMartin) April 18, 2019 Led by chiefs, surrounded by family, Brady Keeper makes the grand entry to his homecoming ceremony in front of a packed Cross Lake arena. pic.twitter.com/NGkYLg9x6H — Melissa Martin (@DoubleEmMartin) April 18, 2019

The Panthers defenceman went from the Manitoba Junior Hockey League to the NHL in just two years and it almost never happened as he came close to calling it quits along the way. However, he stuck to his dream and didn’t stop working until it became reality and now he’s become a true hero to everyone in his hometown and to many people across Canada.



In a sad note, I had beautiful photos that somehow got lost in a technical accident. But, I do gotta share this one last cute video of how excited kids were to see Brady come home. pic.twitter.com/q0tqN13ZTA — Melissa Martin (@DoubleEmMartin) April 18, 2019

Brady showed the love right back to everyone who showed up for him as he ended up signing autographs and posing for pictures with just about every single person in attendance.

(H/T Twitter/DoubleEmMartin)