Meet the biggest Pittsburgh Penguins fan in Newfoundland

Hockey fans across Canada will be glued to their TVs Thursday night to watch Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, but in Newfoundland and Labrador it's doubtful anyone will be watching as closely as Pittsburgh Penguins superfan Frank Woodfine.

Woodfine has turned the garage of his St. John's home into somewhat of a shrine to the Pens, with posters, jerseys, autographed memorabilia and even a piece of a goalie net from the 2008 Stanley Cup Finals.

The Goulds resident has been a fan of the team since its heydey in the early 90s, when star — and now team owner — Mario Lemieux led the Penguins to two Stanley Cup victories in '91 and '92.

He said this was the year he decided to go all out with a Penguins display on the outside of his house as well.

"During the winter months when it looked like Pittsburgh was going to make it to the playoffs, I said we gotta do something different this year, because maybe in the next few years Mario Lemieux won't be there," he said.

"I wanted to have him recognize that I'm the biggest fan in Newfoundland and I want him to know that I want to meet him."

Fan friends in U.S.A

Woodfine's fandom has even made him friends south of the border. One day while shopping for a loaf of bread at Bidgoods, he met a man from Pittsburgh whom he still talks to on a regular basis.

A Pittsburgh sports paper even featured him in an article, and Woodfine has been to the city to see several games over the last number of years.

"They're like Newfoundlanders in Pittsburgh. They send me all kinds of stuff. Every night they email me and ask about the scores and stuff," he said.

"They think highly of me, and I think highly of them."

Game night routine

Despite his passion for the team, he said he doesn't like too much noise or company during an important match up like Thursday's Game 5. Joined by his wife and two dogs, Woodfine will go through his regular routine as he hopes to see his favourite team clinch another Stanley Cup.

"I put on all my lights, get everything going, play a bit of music just to relax me. I blow the horn a couple of times. Then I'll sit down and take it all in," he said.

"I'm very quiet and reserved, but when we're winning and I'm feeling more confidence I express myself at the end of the game more than at the start of a game."