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Here comes the Kings

June 17, 2014

Dustin Brown of the Los Angeles Kings, holds up the Stanley Cup trophy while riding in a parade on the 110 freeway in downtown Los Angeles, Monday, June 16, 2014. The parade and rally were held to celebrate the Los Angeles Kings’ second Stanley Cup championship in three seasons. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

(CNS) – Thousands of Los Angeles Kings fans lined Figueroa Street today to get a glimpse of the Stanley Cup champions — and the Stanley Cup itself — during a victory parade celebrating the team’s second NHL title in the past three seasons.

Kings players and their families boarded double-decker buses at Fifth and Figueroa streets, along with coaches, team staff, broadcasters, team mascot Bailey and the Ice Crew. Also along for the ride were the Stanley Cup, Conn Smythe Trophy and Clarence Campbell Cup.

Some fans began staking out locations along the parade route as early as 4:30 a.m. to ensure prime viewing.

“I haven’t been to any of their games, but I’ve been watching with my dad,” one young fan told ABC7 along the parade route while waiting for the procession to begin.

The half-hour parade, beginning at noon, will end at Staples Center, where a sold-out 1 p.m. rally will be held.

The rally will include video highlights from the season, introductions of the team, coaching staff and executives and speeches by many of the players.

The parade and rally will be shown live by Prime Ticket.

The Kings clinched the Cup Friday night when Alec Martinez scored 14minutes, 43 seconds into the second overtime to defeat the New York Rangers in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final. The goal ended the longest game in the Kings’ 46 seasons of play.