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”Who Knew?” #5: Stanley Cup Abuse, Neglect and Versatility
It is easily the best looking trophy in the sport, and arguably the hardest to win. The Stanley Cup has been the symbol of hockey supremacy for over 100 years, the culmination of a season and playoffs of blood, sweat and tears. It’s hockey’s Holy Grail, the one prize players have won hundreds of times over as kids on backyard rinks across the world but only a lucky few have been able to hoist above their heads as adults.
With this in mind could someone please explain to me why it has been urinated in? Yes, members of a winning team (and I guess their respective “members”) relieved themselves in the Cup. This is not the only odd use of the Cup however, although possibly the most unhygienic. Indeed, this “Holy Grail” has been used, abused and multitasked by those who have had their allotted time with it. What are some of the oddball uses of the Cup you ask? Take a gander at this handful of bizarre Cup moments and see for yourself! At least a few of these will have your heads shaking!
(Ottawa, 1903) A member of the team took the Cup home unbeknownst to his teammates. Once they “beknownst” what had happened they tracked the guy down, a scrap broke out and the beloved Cup ended up being thrown into a cemetery.
(Ottawa, 1905) In an attempt to kick it across the frozen Rideau Canal, a player kicks it into the canal. Somehow they guys forget they had done so until the following day in a “Dude! Where’s my Cup?!?!”” moment of clarity. They returned to the canal and were fortunate enough to find itwhere it had been left.
(Montreal 1906) The team decides they want a picture with the Cup and journey the home of photographer Jim Rice. Task complete, they leave, forgetting the Cup. Jim’s mother subsequently uses the Cup the plant some geraniums, and places it in the backyard until retrieved a few months later.
(Montreal, 1910) One of the players, who owned a bowling alley in Montreal, uses the Cup as a bowl for holding gum, hoping the display will attract buyers.
(Montreal 1924) On their way to a party to celebrate their championship, the car carrying the cup gets a flat tire. The players set the Cup at the side of the road while changing the tire. Once the tire was changed they promptly left, forgetting the Cup. Upon arriving they realize they have forgotten the guest of honour, return to the scene of the flat and find the Cup sitting exactly where they had left it.
(Ottawa, 1927) The Cup was stored in in King Clancy's living room for the majority of the offseason, becoming a makeshift letters/bills holder and place to chuck used chewing gum and cigar butts.
(New York, 1940) The fact that this was the last Cup won by the Rangers until 1994 is often blamed on management’s decision to burn the Madison Square Garden’s mortgage in it following this win. I think that may be the cited reason as the far more likely reason for a curse, Lynn Patrick and other Rangers teammates urinating in the Cup, both a gross and laughable reason for a curse!
(Montreal, 1957) Maurice Richard chipped both front teeth drinking from the Cup.
(Toronto, 1962) During a post-win party, the Cup was dropped into a bonfire and badly damaged. The team repaired it at their own expense.
(Toronto, 1964) Red Kelly posed for a picture with the Cup with his infant son sitting in it. When he went to remove him he discovered that his son had urinated in it.
(Montreal, 1979) Following the Stanley Cup parade, Guy LaFleur snuck the cup into the trunk of his car and drove it to his home town of Thurso to show his family and friends. Craziness ensued until it was found out that Guy in fact had it.
(New York, 1980) Clark Gillies used it as a dog bowl. Teammate Bryan Trottier slept with the Cup.
(Montreal, 1986) Chris Nilan had his naked infant son photographed in it.
(Edmonton, 1987) The Cup was placed on stage with a stripper at the Forum Inn, an Edmonton peeler bar across from the arena, by Mark Messier. The Moose also took the Cup on a bar hop and let fans drink from it. Oddly, confirmed cases of mouth herpes spiked in June 1987 in the city of Edmonton. Coincidence? Depends whether you believe the stripper or not!
(Edmonton, 1988) Mark Messier gets a dent in the Cup and takes it to an automotive repair shop to get fixed.
(Pittsburgh, 1991) The Cup was found at the bottom of Mario Lemieux's pool after Phil Bourque jumped in with it and it sank. A piece of the Cup also broke in the process and had to be duct taped back on. On the topic of Phil Bourque, on his day with the Cup he reportedly heard some rattling from inside it and took it apart to repair it. Once it was open he noticed repairmen had scratched their names onto the inside of the trophy, so Bourque followed suit, inscribing “Enjoy it, Phil Bubba Bourque, ‘91 Penguins”.
(New York, 1994) Mark Messier took the Cup to New York strip club “Scores”. Later that day, Ed Olczyk brought it to Belmont racetrack and lets Kentucky Derby winner Go for Gin eat from it. Oddly, confirmed cases of mouth herpes among horses at Belmont spiked in June 1994. Coincidence?
(Colorado, 1996) Sylvain Lefebvre had his son baptized in it.
(Dallas, 1999) At a party hosted by Craig Ludwig and Pantera drummer Vinnie Paul at the latter’s home, Guy Carbonneau attempted to throw the Cup from the second level balcony into the “Crown Royal” shaped pool. It just missed, striking the edge of the pool and putting a dent in it. League officials deny this happened, but offer up conflicting stories as to how the dent got there so I’m going to keep believing it! Besides, this just adds to the aura of Vinnie Paul and his late brother Dimebag Darrell, so it’s appealing on many levels!
(New Jersey, 2003) Martin Brodeur took the Cup to the movies and ate popcorn out of it. It apparently had butter stains and salt damage for days until Jamie Langenbrunner gave it a good cleaning.
(Carolina, 2006) Doug Weight filled the Cup with a few gallons of ice cream, chocolate sauce, chocolate chips, marshmallows and M&M’s, making a huge sundae for his kids.
(Detroit, 2008) Kris Draper placed his newborn daughter into the Cup where she proceeded to take a dump.
The Cup also had this thoroughly awkward appearance on “Guiding Light”:
You ever have that feeling when you’re embarrassed for someone else to the point that you feel as though it might as well be you? Yeah, I just had that for a trophy…
Remember to visit us at www.hockeyden.net and get details on how YOU could be our winner of a 2010 SIDNEY CROSBY TEAM CANADA OLYMPICS JERSEY!!! Contest runs from now until February 14, 2010, so enter now and often!!! Capture The Passion with HockeyDen.net!!
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