The Stanley Cup's whirlwind tour of Carolina Hurricanes' hometowns paused in the Lower Mainland yesterday.
Maple Ridge's Andrew Ladd, a rookie left winger with 2006's National Hockey League champions, picked up the beloved trophy and its chaperone Mike Bolt at Vancouver International Airport before 8 a.m.
Ladd, Bolt and the Cup, transported by sport-utility limousine, stopped at B.C.'s Children's Hospital and Canuck Place children's hospice to pose for photographs and sign autographs.
"It was amazing to watch the smiles on those kids' faces," Bolt said.
Ladd hosted a public celebration at Maple Ridge's Memorial Peace Park in the afternoon and shared the Cup with friends and family during the evening.
Bolt and "Stanley" were scheduled to leave this morning at 7 a.m.
B.C.'s other Cup- winning Hurricanes Mark Recchi, Rod Brind'Amour and Mike Commodore received Cup visits earlier this summer.
It's en route to their teammates Craig Adams in Alberta and Andrew Hutchinson in Michigan.
The Cup on tour is the official trophy that's presented to the playoff champion. The original bowl, donated by Gov. Gen. Lord Stanley of Preston in 1892, was retired in 1969 and is exhibited in the Hockey Hall of Fame's vault. Vancouver Millionaires hoisted the original Cup when they were 1915 champions. Their names are engraved inside the bowl.
