Dylan Strome’s head is down and he’s sitting by himself at the end of the visitor’s bench while this crowd of some 6,000 sings along to “Sweet Caroline” — “bop, bop, bah!” Strome wants no part of it. Seconds ago, the Erie Otters captain and his teammates assembled on the ice for a group hug. They said they loved each other, that they’d always be brothers and champions, and then they hurried to their dressing room. All but Strome, that is, who was asked to stay, and so here he is, staring at the floor. At the other end of the rink, the Windsor Spitfires yell and hug and throw things like you do when you’ve just won the biggest game of your life.

Strome’s name is announced, so No. 19 stands up, steps onto the ice and skates to centre to accept the Mastercard Memorial Cup MVP trophy. He poses dutifully for pictures, still wearing his white helmet, his patchily bearded face showing no trace of a smile. Strome carries the hardware back to the bench at waist level and passes it off to the first person he sees so she can take it away. Then he walks down the hall to join his teammates.