Addressing the press and a few hundred fans, who welcomed him at the airport, Kopitar said he was happy to be back home and thanked the fans for support.

Many hockey enthusiasts stayed up late nights to watch the games played in New York and Los Angeles live. Kopi's fans from his home town of Jesenice even watched the games at the now deserted hockey hall.

Kopitar, who traditionally spends summers in Slovenia, will have a packed schedule despite being rather tired from the hockey season. As soon as tomorrow, he will host a charitable golf tournament in the lakeside town of Bled.