Pittsburgh Penguins Stanley Cup Parade Live Blog
4:28 p.m. ET: Stories from the Pittsburgh Penguins Stanley Cup parade are starting to trickle in. There were a reported 400,000 people there, about 25,000 more than their last Stanley Cup parade in 2009. The most enjoyable visual moment was probably when Carl Hagelin and Nick Bonino paid homage to "the legend" Phil Kessel. Check down our scroll to see all the great Kessel moments. There were a lot of them.
What was the parade like for people who went? Two people shared what they couldn't see as they tried to make their way along the route.
Here is an attempted photo of Kessel and Hagelin.
And Patric Hornqvist
They also couldn't hear the speech of coach Mike Sullivan because, "Roaring crowds and helicopters= no idea what he said."
It seemed like a fun, spirited affair. It didn't quite have the same viral moments of last year's Chicago Blackhawks' parade, that featured a singing Kris Versteeg, everyone seemed to enjoy themselves.
1:39 p.m. ET: More photos continue to roll in from the parade route, which clearly featured a lot of Phil Kessel love.
1:31 p.m. ET: More HBK adoration from the parade route with Phil Kessel and Carl Hagelin.
1:29 p.m. ET: Carl Hagelin celebrating with Phil Kessel with a selfie. Two of the most important members of the HBK line.
Same Hags, same. #Pens #PensParade pic.twitter.com/DnJI5qS9QE
— Samu Mäkisalo (@Smac_96) June 15, 2016
1:25 p.m. ET: The parade and rally brought a bunch of cool moments, such as a Zamboni riding in the parade line.
The #PensParade has a Zamboni heading down Grant now! pic.twitter.com/JCL1me4sLK
— ESPN Pittsburgh (@ESPNRadioPGH) June 15, 2016
1:12 p.m. ET: The rally has officially ended with Penguins analyst Phil Bourque re-creating his famous line from the team's 1991 Stanley Cup parade by saying the team should take the Cup on the river "and party all summer."
It's the perfect way to end the parade for the Pens' fourth Stanley Cup championship.
1:06 p.m. ET: Hockey Night Punjabi is in the house with their famous "Bonino!" goal call. Nashville Predators longtime play-by-play man Pete Weber posted it to his YouTube page.
1:05 p.m. ET: The moment we've all been waiting for just happened. The HBK line came up to the mic and Phil Kessel didn't say a word, but he lifted the Cup. Nick Bonino called Kessel a "legend." Carl Hagelin saying playing with Kessel was "a big honor, nobody’s better. Phil the Thrill!"
Nick Bonino & Carl Hagelin showed serious love for Phil Kessel, the Stanley Cup Champion, during today's parade. pic.twitter.com/oIKr8F8dkP
— Tim and Sid (@timandsid) June 15, 2016
1:03 p.m. ET: Captain Sidney Crosby just spoke.
"This is exactly how I remembered it (from 2009). I think it’s even bigger this time," he said.
1:00 p.m. ET: Nice picture of Sidney Crosby on a car with the Stanley Cup.
The Captain and His Cup #PensParade pic.twitter.com/GYQDg4O9hk
— #StanleyCupChampions (@PGHSportsGuru) June 15, 2016
12:57 p.m. ET: "We were slow at one time, but man were we fast when we finished," Penguins GM Jim Rutherford said.
12:52 p.m. ET: Penguins CEO David Morehouse estimates there are 350,000 people at the parade. Rich Fitzgerald, the Allegheny County Chief Executive, says this is the biggest parade for Pittsburgh.
12:48 p.m. ET: Jeff Jimerson has started the festivities on stage with the national anthem.
12:38 p.m. ET: The Phil Kessel/hot dog narrative has a life of its own.
He has my vote! Phil Kessel for President! @penguins #LetsGoPens #PensParade #ThankYouPens pic.twitter.com/14wqX7Cr71
— Maverick (@Mav1789) June 15, 2016
12:37 p.m. ET: People hanging their feet over that garage is something. These fans seem pretty pumped.
Safe to say we can party #PenguinsParade #StanleyCup #BecauseItsTheCup pic.twitter.com/XXW6y2E2cs
— Mike Sullivans Ego (@MikeJohnstonego) June 15, 2016
12:34 p.m. ET: The Penguins have reached the stage. Time for the best part of the parade.
12:29 p.m. ET: There is all sorts of Phil Kessel love going on at the parade. In case you missed it, Kessel may take the Stanley Cup to Toronto.
Hagelin and Kessel #PensParade pic.twitter.com/nCrKn5KGu9
— Scott Mervis (@scottmervis_pg) June 15, 2016
12:25 p.m. ET: The parade is heading down the Boulevard of the Allies. What a scene.
Parade makes its way down Boulevard of the Allies.@PGSportsNow @PittsburghPG #StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/qnq2jGgC0Q
— PGVisuals (@PGVisuals) June 15, 2016
12:23 p.m. ET: Nick Bonino still has his scraggly playoff beard but said he will shave Friday. Sounds like it's a charity event of some sort.
12:19 p.m. ET: Incredible scene in Pittsburgh right now.
.@TribLIVE photographer Nate Smallwood is on top of a parking garage covering the parade. Check out this footage pic.twitter.com/5mLvui8v6f
— Aaron Aupperlee (@tinynotebook) June 15, 2016
12:15 p.m. ET: There is a dinosaur near the parade route.
The #PenguinsParade has gone prehistoric (via IG/ maggieschmerin) pic.twitter.com/1HLwBAjaRM
— NHL on NBC (@NHLonNBCSports) June 15, 2016
12:13 p.m. ET: When asked what the team has been up to the last few days, Justin Schultz says, "Just the boys, having a few beverages ... nothing too crazy."
12:09 p.m. ET: Here are a few screen shots from the broadcast. Nick Bonino is rocking a GoPro camera on his hat.
Captain Sidney Crosby is at the end of the line with the Stanley Cup.
11:59 p.m. ET: The parade has started! Players are starting to roll out in cars.
11:44 p.m. ET: A Phil Kessel hot dog reference.
Best sign of the day so far. Kessel's Wieners for Conn Smythe. Love it. #PensParade pic.twitter.com/9L40qae0Lw
— Dave DiCello (@DaveDiCello) June 15, 2016
11:39 p.m. ET: Penguins fans ready to celebrate.
Let's get this parade going! Stream: https://t.co/XriCSkcoAC
Check out "Penguins" on Snapchat for more coverage! pic.twitter.com/4PgQORpKUb— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) June 15, 2016
11:30 p.m. ET: The North Alleghany Senior High School marching band is about to lead the Penguins onto the parade route.
11: 23 p.m. ET: Looks like quite a scene in Pittsburgh right now.
What a scene. pic.twitter.com/jOolVf6FDR
— Josh Yohe (@JoshYohe_PGH) June 15, 2016
11:17 a.m. ET: Where will the parade go? It "will wind along Grant Street to Boulevard of Allies and end at a reviewing stand at Stanwix Street," says the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, which estimates about 375,000 fans will show up. Here is a graphic from Channel 4 in PIttsburgh.
11:00 a.m. ET: Welcome to our live blog for the Pittsburgh Penguins Stanley Cup parade! Make sure to check back throughout the course of the parade for news, views and videos of the celebration.
Let's start with a photo of Hockey Night Punjabi with Nick Bonino and a team wrestling belt gifted by Triple H in honor of their win. It appears that the Penguins are having their official team pictures taken at Consol Energy Center before the parade.
So much greatness in one photo. pic.twitter.com/DgxOuL46rA
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) June 15, 2016
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Josh Cooper is an editor for Puck Daddy on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at puckdaddyblog@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter! Follow @joshuacooper