Kiss the Cup?

In 1893, Lord Stanley of Preston, the Governor General of Canada, purchased the Stanley Cup for $50.00 as a prize for the best amateur hockey club in Canada. The first team to have their names engraved on the cup was the Montreal Wanderers in 1907. It remained the Holy Grail of amateur hockey until 1927 when the NHL took control and the cup turned pro.

The Stanley Cup is the only trophy in professional sports that bears the name of the players, coaches, management and staff from the winning teams. A player must appear in 41 regular-season games or one Stanley Cup Final game for the championship team to have their name engraved on the cup. Some exceptions are made due to injury or extenuating circumstances. It takes 13 years to fill a ring on the cup and when a ring is full, an older ring is removed from near the top and put on display at the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto.

Standing approximately 3 feet in height and weighing 32 pounds, I didn't hoist the cup and based on the advice from my friend and Cup Cop, Walt Neubrand, I didn't kiss it either. Thank you Chip and Kathy Burke for granting me this special opportunity.