Congratulations on tying a long-deceased cavalryman with the Stanley Cup. I’m impressed. You get high points for that one. 🙂

And, because you know I’m a hockey nut, you get special dispensation from me. 🙂

That must have been really cool spending some time with Lord Stanely’s hardware. I would love to do that just once, let alone more than once.

Eric

Personal note: I got to spend some quality time with the Cup in 1994, just before the Rangers soiled it. And I mean quality time. The NHL came to Phoenix in a exhibition series of neutral site games over a few years to test the appetite for the NHL out here. You can guess who went, and went, and went. Well, in January 1994 Montreal and Quebec came here to play, and the NHL took the Cup here, too (Montreal was the defending champion). They brought it to a department store one night, and I waited in line to pass by it. The next morning, the Cup visited a local sporting goods store, along with its escort, Guy Lafleur. Only a few people showed up, and before long many of them left, but I stayed, talked with Guy, and there are a good number of pictures of my daughter and I looking at the Cup, standing besides the Cup, standing with Guy besides the Cup, and so on. I just couldn’t get over it. I had a really nice time talking with the Cup’s caretaker, too.

Late that afternoon, they opened up America West Arena (as it was then known) for a public skate prior to the game. Some of you know that I played hockey fairly seriously for some time, so I took my skates and went down to the arena several hours before game time. And guess what was at center ice? The caretaker recognized me, and it was interesting to be on ice with the Stanley Cup, to say the least.

Every year at this time, when I see the Cup being brought out for the presentation ceremony, well, it’s a moment for me, let’s put it that way. Especially when two playoff traditions — the beards and the handing of the Cup from player to player — originated, it seems, with my Islanders. And so the tradition continued last night.

I know of one blogkeeper and at least two people whom I’ve met in person who will appreciate the story, and my telling it is all due to Pennock Huey and the Anaheim Ducks. 🙂

Others can see it as a prelude to a post remembering Brandy Station. 🙂

Eric

Thought you’d be interested in it…..JM

Now you have something else to search out! And don’t forget to get a picture…

J.D.