It has been kicked into the Rideau Canal by an Ottawa Senators player in 1905, urinated in by New York Rangers in 1940, and accidentally dropped into a bonfire by Toronto Maple Leafs in 1962. Just last June it was dented at a chili bar in Detroit as the Red Wings took it out for a night on the town.
Of course, the item in question is the Holy Grail of hockey, the Stanley Cup.
Thanks to a fundraising initiative by Special Olympics Yukon, Lord Stanley’s Mug will be making a short visit to Whitehorse at the end of next month.
In what’s being called the Stanley Cup School/Student Challenge, six different Whitehorse area schools will be competing to host the Cup at their school March 30, giving the student body a close up look at the 13.6-kilogram wonder.
The lucky school will be the one to raise the most money (in relation to size) through various fundraiser initiatives.
“Every school has its own initiatives planned,” said Serge Michaud, executive director of Special Olympics Yukon. “Most of the schools are doing pledge forms.”
The six schools, which include five elementary schools and FH Collins Secondary, were allowed to choose their own 30-day period within the March 3 deadline.
“All the schools have started fundraising and some are finishing in the next week or so,” said Michaud. “Others go on to March 3rd.”
In addition, the student that raises the most in that period will get to have Lord Stanley’s Mug over for dinner at home March 29.
Potential winners should remember to be careful while drinking from the Cup—Rocket Richard chipped his two front teeth drinking from it.
In other Special Olympics news, cross-country skier Owen Munro in currently in Boise, Idaho, for the Special Olympics World Winter Games and will be competing over the weekend. In last year’s event, Munro took home a gold in the five-kilometre classic and fourth in the 2.5-kilometre classic.
Contact Tom Patrick at tomp@yukon-news.com