Champions celebrate with 650,000 faithful as Pittsburgh hosts yet another parade

Just as the city marveled at the indomitable Penguins' march to a second consecutive Stanley Cup championship, the players marveled on Wednesday at the estimated crowd of 650,000 that turned out for yet another victory parade on Pittsburgh's streets.

One by one, the Penguins rode through waves of adoring fans in what is believed to be the most-attended sports parade in Pittsburgh history.

"Look at this scene," Sidney Crosby said. "This is what it's all about."



He wasn't the only one who was blown away by the crowd.

"This is amazing," said Jake Guentzel, who led all players with 13 goals during this postseason. "I've never seen anything like it. Nothing at all."

The parade was kind of like the Penguins. It was well-structured. It relied on a mix of veteran experience (it was Pittsburgh's fifth championship parade in the past dozen years) and youthful enthusiasm (nearly every child in Western Pennsylvania appeared to be on hand), and rolled on with majesty.

Patric Hornqvist, the man who scored the game-winning goal in Game 6 against the Predators, said the victory parade was his most cherished experience of this spring.

"This is something special," he said. "It was the best part of winning it last year. It's the best part again."

The Penguins are largely constructed of players with quiet personalities. With a championship finally secure, the most low-key of the Penguins loosened up.

• Guentzel, who barely uttered a word all spring while turning into a star, was asked about his day with the Cup this summer. "Minnesota," he screamed.

He was in rather entertaining form: