Blues owner Dave Checketts met with the media in the locker room after Friday night’s playoff-clinching victory.

Q: Did you ever have any doubt.

DC: “No, I didn’t. It has been a run unlike any other I’ve ever really been a part of. Maybe the 1999 New York Knicks, who went all the way to the (NBA) Finals . . . that was quite a ride. But this is really precious because it represents a tremendous amount of hard work from a lot of great, great people and great players. This is something very special.”

Q: What do you think got the team turned around this year?

DC: “They never stopped believing in each other. Between Andy Murray and John Davidson and the moves that were made . . . the trade with Toronto has obviously paid huge dividends . . . the way the young kids have come along . . . leadership on the team from Walt (Tkachuk) to (David) Backes and (Brad) Boyes. And you have to say that the play of Chris Mason may have been the most important factor.”

Q: What were those last few seconds like tonight, as they ticked off the clock?

DC: “It was very emotional for me. I just can’t tell you how great this is. I can’t tell you how great I think St. Louis is . . . the fans. Now we have an opportunity to do something really special. But we’re going to celebrate for a couple of hours tonight.”

Q: How do you celebrate?

DC: “Well, I’m going to be with family and friends and just really enjoy the moment . . . because when these come, you have to enjoy them. I’m happy for our fans, I’m happy for these players, the coaches, management that has worked so hard. Everybody ought to just enjoy this . . . it’s a great, great story.”

Q: How difficult was it for you to remain patient throughout all of this?

DC: “It’s very hard for me to be patient because I’ve been in other sports where there’s quick dividends for making a couple of changes. But this is not one of those sports. Maybe the most important thing about this sport is to have a team that really believes in each other and comes together. And that’s what has happened in this room. Now, I frankly believe anything can happen. I told these guys two weeks ago when they were in my apartment for a dinner . . . I said, ‘Something magical is starting to happen here. I don’t know how far we can ride, but let’s enjoy it together.’”

Q: The Blues have been in a ‘rebuild stage’ for three years . . . is the ‘rebuilding’ over with?

DC: “I don’t know if the rebuild is over. I don’t know when it started exactly. We started out to do one thing, which was to have a chance to be the group that finally brought the Stanley Cup to St. Louis. That’s our whole goal. It’s been our goal since day one. We’ve never wavered from that. You can’t bring the Stanley Cup to St. Louis until you get in the playoffs. This is the first step. But I think everybody has to believe with the young players that we have, we’ve got a great future. It’s too strong to say the future is now, but now that we’re in, we’re going to give it everything we’ve got.”

JR