The Stanley Cup has seen its share of snow, but Mike Bolt figures the parade through Corner Brook on Saturday morning was one the snowiest he and the Cup has ever been in.
Bolt is one of the Hockey Hall of Fame’s Keepers of the Cup and he brought the Cup to the city from Toronto for the Scotiabank Hockey Day in Canada celebrations.
Perched on a blanket on the roof of a pickup, the Cup was followed by a crowd of people as it left city hall and travelled down over Main Street, up Mount Bernard Avenue, up University Drive and in Canada Games place to the centre.
Bolt said while on the ride he joked with Tony Chaisson, who hopped in the back with him to help hold the Cup if needed, that he thought the parade was a little longer than the Pittsburgh Penguins’ Stanley Cup parade last June.
“But it’s great for the fans,” he said.
“It’s obviously a cold, snowy day, so God bless all the fans that came out and supported the parade.”
In fact, before the Cup even arrived a long line formed outside the heated tent in which it was placed in the parking lot of the centre. Everyone it seemed wanted to get a picture with the Cup.
As he looked around him Bolt marveled at the crowd gathered. “And the show hasn’t even started.”
Bolt has been a Keeper of the Cup for over 18 years.
“It’s one of those cool jobs, probably the best people-watching job,” he said.
“The Stanley Cup brings so much smiles and joy to everybody. Obviously, the guys that win it and get their name on it, they’re as big a hockey fan as anybody who is in line to get their picture with the Cup right now.
“It’s just great to bring the trophy around the world.”
