The Stanley Cup was in Dallas... but not for the right reasons

The Stanley Cup returned to Dallas this week as Seth Jones, a Florida Panthers defenseman and Arlington native, shared the sport's most iconic trophy with the next generation of Texas hockey players at the rink where his passion first began.

Jones, who grew up watching the Dallas Stars win the 1999 Stanley Cup, spent nearly two hours at the StarCenter Valley Ranch in Irving, where he played as a youth.

He took pictures, signed autographs, and posed with the Cup alongside players in the local program, according to The Dallas Morning News.

"I spent a lot of time here for a lot of different coaches, a lot of different teams. Without the development of Texas youth hockey and the growth we've seen over the last 10, 15 years, I know I wouldn't be standing here today. I wanted to give back and show the kids here that just because it's not a huge hockey market, things are still possible. You can still make the NHL." Jones told NHL.com.

Seth Jones' Stanley Cup return to Texas shows how far Dallas hockey has come

Jones, who was traded to Florida at the deadline for Spencer Knight and a first-round pick, said he still struggles to put into words what winning the Stanley Cup means.

"These are moments you dream about. Moments we all worked so hard for. They don't happen often."

He was joined in Dallas by family, including his brother Caleb Jones, a former Blackhawks teammate who recently signed with the Pittsburgh Penguins.

The Cup visit wasn't just a celebration, it was a statement about how far Texas hockey has grown, and I think it proves how deep the sport's roots now run in Dallas.