At only 35 and a quarter inches tall and weighing about 35 pounds, a recent visitor to Labrador West had more pictures taken in a day than most people have in a year.
The visitor was “the Stanley Cup.”
So how did the cup find its way to Labrador West?
Ryan Hurley, Manager of the Ontario Regional centre for Hockey Canada explained to the Aurora. “Myself and Francois Bouchard the Manager for the Quebec region were going to nearby Fermont Quebec to do a skills camp. Since we were so close, we called Junior Humphries of the Labrador West Minor Hockey Association and offered to do a camp in Labrador West.”
The offer was accepted, and Hurley says they contacted the Hockey Hall of Fame to see if the Cup could join them, and the request was granted.
Hurley told the Aurora they travel a lot between September and March to do these skills camps. He estimates about sixty camps in that time. He travels not only in Ontario but to other Provinces as well, later this month camps will be held in Prince Edward Island.
The camps in Labrador West were for Novice, Atom, Peewee and Bantam division players.
“The Camps last about an hour, and we teach skill development, fundamentals, but most of all to have fun and teach the young players how to have a positive experience,” Hurley said.
Noah Pickett told the Aurora “It was fun, and I learned a lot, plus I got to see the Stanley Cup and get my picture taken with it.”
Noah’s dad Howie, who is with the Lab West Minor Hockey Association says the young players were thrilled with the camp and the cup.
Mike Rowcliffe stood on one side of the cup, his daughter Anne on the other, and beamed as they had their photos taken with the Iconic cup which was first awarded in 1893.
The cup, travels with a person who is designated “keeper of the cup.” In this case it was Howie Borrow.
“I started with the hockey hall of fame in 2004, and was asked to become a keeper of the cup in 2010. (There are currently four keepers who work throughout the year); it’s a lot of travel. I’m with the cup about 150 to 180 days a year, I’ve been to all the provinces and about forty US states...it’s a great job, everybody’s happy to see you.” Borrow said. “It’s especially gratifying to come to smaller communities Like Fermont, and Labrador City and Wabush ,where it may not be easy for people to actually get a chance to go see the cup or to get to the Hall of Fame.”
Judging by the long lineup of young and not so young waiting to get in to see the cup and have a photo taken with it, to see where their favorite teams victories are recorded , and the smiles it brings Borrow is right . He told the Aurora, he’s been told by many, that he has the best job in the world.
