The town of Jackson is still abuzz with excitement after the Stanley Cup's visit. This picture of Sports Illustrated photo contest winner, Harrison Sauter, graced the front page of Jackson Hole News and Guide today and was accompanied by a feature article in the Sports section highlighting the day's events as well as the history of The Cup.
Even the most diehard hockey fans learned a thing or two from the Keeper of the Cup, Mike Bolt who travels with the trophy nearly year-round as it makes stops worldwide. Bolt was quick to point out history, trivia and interesting facts about the famous and long-lived ice award, including:
1. Harrison's favorite hockey team, the New York Islanders, is actually one of the many misspellings to grace the silver bands (spelled "Ilanders").
2. The trophy weighs roughly 35 pounds.
3. Bolt's only rule, no one is allowed to pick up The Cup, unless, of course, that person has just won the NHL championship game.
4. The only other year the Stanley Cup has come to Jackson was in 1995 when Jackson resident Bobby Holik (who played for the '94/'95 championship team, the New Jersey Devils) brought it "home" to share with valley residents.
5. The Stanley Cup came to be when Lord Stanley, governor general of Canada, began awarding it to the champion amateur hockey team of Canada in 1892.
6. It became the championship trophy of the NHL in 1926 and has been awarded to each year's winning team every since, except during the 2004-2005 season, when the season was cancelled due to a labor dispute.
7. Bolt says he has seen winning team members eat and drink out of The Cup (including champaign, cereal, beer and popcorn), sleep with the cup, take it fishing and even go for a helicopter ride to the top of a mountain in British Columbia.