You likely heard the reports last week that the Cup was dented during a party at Cheli’s Chili Bar in downtown Detroit. While the NHL confirmed there was a “slight dent” which had to be repaired, The Red Wings players and other witnesses kept the traditional “Cup Code of Silence”, denying the “rumours”.
Well, it’s remarkable what you find out after several truth-serum cocktails at the NHL Awards after-party.
Here’s what happened: Chris Chelios was atop the bar, Coyote Ugly style, Cup in hand, with the packed crowd cheering madly. At some point there was an attempted handoff to Brett Lebda. Whether it was the chaos of the crowd, or the…umm…content of the blood, balance was lost. Down went Lebda. Down went Stanley.
And no, the dent wasn’t “slight”.
In fact, it needed emergency service. Mike Bolt, the Keeper of the Cup, was taken to Joe Louis Arena, where Stan, like a forward who took a puck in the eye, was placed gently on the trainer’s table in the Red Wings dressing room, and operated on.
Bolt had to use a hammer to carefully pop the dent out, a procedure that resembled neurosurgery in its intricacy. One of the bands that contain all the names popped off at one point. But like Bobby Baun, the Cup was right back out there for the rest of its appearances. Heroic.
Next post will come to you LIVE FROM NEWFOUNDLAND where Kate and I will be slumped over some bar on George Street in St. John's listening to some insane story from a local during the NHL Draft. Should be a good time. Giv'r!
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