The man who declared “Cup in six” will spend time with the trophy Friday and Saturday.
Owner Bill Foley will host the Stanley Cup for two days at Rock Creek Cattle Company, his Montana ranch. The Golden Knights take an annual retreat there and the players even went up for a day with the Cup before their parade down Las Vegas Boulevard.
Foley was the man who made everything possible. He organized a season-ticket drive in Las Vegas before he was awarded a team and convinced the NHL to become the first major league to give the city a chance. He opened the floodgates for more teams to come flooding in, from the Aces to the Raiders to maybe soon the Athletics.
Foley also made a sharp hire in George McPhee, who was the Knights’ first general manager and now president of hockey operations. McPhee, along with now general manager Kelly McCrimmon, built a strong front-office staff that helped give the team one of the best rosters in the NHL.
Foley also invested in facilities. He gave the Knights a first-class practice rink at City National Arena, an envied atmosphere at T-Mobile Arena, the America First Center and The Dollar Loan Center for their American League team and enough infrastructure to grow youth hockey participation at a rapid pace.
The Cup’s next stop will be Sunday in Estevan, Saskatchewan. It will visit defenseman Brayden Pachal in his hometown.
Mark Stone — Tuesday, Wednesday
The Knights captain showed off the Cup in his hometown of Winnipeg, Manitoba on Tuesday. He brought it to Keith Bodley Arena, which he grew up playing at, and his old high school Westwood Collegiate.
The captain: Mark Stone, brings the #stanleycup back to where it all began: Winnipeg, Manitoba @GoldenKnights @NHL @HockeyHallFame pic.twitter.com/ywU5II3NqG
— Philip Pritchard (@keeperofthecup) July 27, 2023
Stone also took the Cup to the Children’s Hospital Foundation of Manitoba on Wednesday.
That’s our captain! 👏
Mark Stone brought the Stanley Cup to the Children’s Hospital Foundation of Manitoba today ❤️ pic.twitter.com/rLxHbctEL7
— 🏆 – Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) July 26, 2023
Brett Howden — Sunday
Howden was treated to a parade in his honor in his hometown of Oakbank during his day with the Cup.
Brett, Charlie and Stanley 😃 pic.twitter.com/U1nCjStThO
— 🏆 – Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) July 23, 2023
The 25-year-old had plenty of reason to celebrate, given he signed a two-year contract extension with the Knights on July 19 with an average annual value of $1.9 million. Howden also played a round of golf with the Cup earlier in the day.
What do the Stanley Cup and the Claret Jug have in common?
Both are iconic silver trophies that are on golf courses today 🤩
Brett Howden is hitting the links on his day with the #StanleyCup 😁 pic.twitter.com/7PuSkim2DD
— 🏆 – Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) July 23, 2023
Ryan Craig — Saturday
Craig, a Knights assistant the last six seasons, was due to receive the Cup at Thomas Lake in Manitoba on Saturday.
Assistant coach Ryan Craig enjoys a snack during his #StanleyCup day back home in the Brandon, Manitoba area. Pierogis is the food of a champion for Coach Craig. @GoldenKnights @NHL @HockeyHallFame pic.twitter.com/cm3dF3COCd
— Philip Pritchard (@keeperofthecup) July 24, 2023
The 41-year-old was named the Silver Knights coach in June. Craig, 41, took on a variety of duties for the team while serving under coaches Gerard Gallant, Pete DeBoer and Bruce Cassidy. He helped with the power play and penalty kill at different times, drilled faceoffs, worked with forwards and scouted opposing teams at different points.
Kelly McCrimmon — July 21, Monday
McCrimmon, the Knights’ general manager, showed off the Cup at Keystone Centre in Brandon, Manitoba on July 21.
McCrimmon has deep connections to the Western Hockey League’s Brandon Wheat Kings, being part of the organization for decades as a player, coach, general manager and owner.
He’s the first person to win the Stanley Cup and the WHL championship as a GM.
GM Kelly McCrimmon of the @GoldenKnights brings the Cup back home to Brandon Manitoba and pays a special tribute @NHL @HockeyHallFame pic.twitter.com/2sZUDmwmlM
— Philip Pritchard (@keeperofthecup) July 23, 2023
McCrimmon also paid tribute to his late brother Brad, who played 1,222 games as an NHL defenseman. Brad McCrimmon died in a plane crash in Russia in 2011 while traveling to his first game as a Kontinental Hockey League coach.
Kelly McCrimmon also got an extra day with the Cup on Monday for private events.
Michael Amadio — July 19
Amadio, one of the Knights’ unsung heroes, took the Cup to his hometown of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario.
Welcome back to the Soo, Stanley! VGK Michael Amadio takes the #StanleyCup to The GFL Memorial Gardens for the community and then to family and friends. (Sault Ste. Marie, ON) #StanleyCup @GoldenKnights @NHL @HockeyHallFame pic.twitter.com/iJpw3Fyi6T
— Philip Pritchard (@keeperofthecup) July 20, 2023
He had a community event at the local rink GFL Memorial Gardens, then hung out with family and friends. His dog even got the chance to drink out of the Cup.
Talk about the dog days of summer 🐶#VegasBorn | @Vegas pic.twitter.com/E0MUANA3re
— 🏆 – Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) July 20, 2023
Phil Kessel — July 18
Kessel had his third day with the Cup in Toronto, after previously winning it with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2016 and 2017. The 35-year-old received it in Toronto and celebrated with family and friends.
VGK Phil Kessel keeps it relatively quiet (except for the birthday party 🙂) after his 3rd Cup victory. BTW, there were no hot dogs. (Toronto, ON). #StanleyCup @GoldenKnights @NHL @HockeyHallFame pic.twitter.com/DBNBkgfOOu
— Philip Pritchard (@keeperofthecup) July 19, 2023
Kessel, who is tied for 96th all-time with 413 goals, scored 14 goals and 36 points after signing with the Golden Knights as a free agent last August. He broke the NHL record for consecutive games played with the team and became one of 10 active three-time champions.
Kessel is a free agent. He said after the Knights won the Cup he had no plans to retire and end his consecutive games played streak at 1,064.
Katy Boettinger — July 17
The Knights director of hockey administration had the Cup blessed in New Jersey before taking it on a ferry ride to Delaware.
VGK Director of Hockey Administration Katy Boettinger has Stanley blessed before starting her day. This was followed by a ferry ride to Delaware to end off the day with family & friends. (Avalon, NJ & Ocean View, DE) #StanleyCup @GoldenKnights @NHL @HockeyHallFame pic.twitter.com/UFH6XAYqJ0
— Philip Pritchard (@keeperofthecup) July 18, 2023
Boettinger, the only woman with her name on the Cup from the Knights, handles a lot of different duties for the team like serving as a liaison for players and their families.
John Stevens — July 16
Stevens, a Knights assistant, was due to receive the Cup in Sea Isle City, New Jersey.
Stevens, 57, is coming off his first season with the Knights. He worked with the team’s defensemen, helping lead one of the best blue lines in the NHL. Stevens also ran the Knights’ penalty kill.
Add another ring! 3-time Stanley Cup Champion VGK Assistant Coach John Stevens brings Stanley back to Sea Isle after 9 years and takes it to many of the local service people including the US Post. (Sea Isle, NJ) #StanleyCup @GoldenKnights @NHL @HockeyHallFame @USPS pic.twitter.com/16q8ZrxULW
— Philip Pritchard (@keeperofthecup) July 17, 2023
This is Stevens’ third Stanley Cup championship, after winning it all as an assistant with the Los Angeles Kings in 2012 and 2014.
Ivan Barbashev — July 15
Barbashev, a Cup-winning veteran with two titles to his name, partied in style in Miami.
VGK Centerman Ivan Barbashev knows how to party in style on a 175 ft. yacht. (Miami, FL) #StanleyCup @GoldenKnights @NHL @HockeyHallFame pic.twitter.com/Gk1ihLo54t
— Philip Pritchard (@keeperofthecup) July 16, 2023
He had the trophy aboard a 175-foot yacht filled with those close to him to celebrate. He also won the Cup in 2019 with the St. Louis Blues.
Jack Eichel — July 14
Eichel began his day with the Cup with a police escort to one of the rinks he played at growing up: Skate 3 Ice Arena in Tyngsborough, Massachusetts.
Jack Eichel’s day with the Stanley Cup has begun at Skate 3 in Tyngsboro@WEEI @GoldenKnights @hockey_east pic.twitter.com/QcVOn9LpX5
— Bridgette Proulx (@bridgetteproulx) July 14, 2023
Jack Eichel’s favorite thing about the Stanley Cup: sharing it with the people who helped him along the way 😃#VegasBorn | @Vegas pic.twitter.com/TCFdwJWhuJ
— 🏆 – Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) July 18, 2023
The North Chelmsford, Massachusetts, native then showed the trophy off to more fans at Chelmsford high school. Eichel spent a year there before leaving to play with the United States national team development program.
Thank you to NHL Champ and Chelmsford’s own Jack Eichel for bringing the Stanley Cup to CHS today! @CPSchoolsMA @NHL @GoldenKnights @CHSASBoosters @LowellSunSports @BostonHeraldHS @GlobeLars pic.twitter.com/Eip5h8kakF
— Chelmsford Athletics (@_LionsAthletics) July 14, 2023
He also held a celebration with friends and family that included goaltender Jonathan Quick in Salisbury, Massachusetts.
Time to relax! Jack finished off his day celebrating with Jonathan Quick and other friends & family. (Salisbury, MA) #StanleyCup @GoldenKnights @NHL @HockeyHallFame pic.twitter.com/sJsoX1o3DC
— Philip Pritchard (@keeperofthecup) July 15, 2023
Bruce Cassidy — July 13
The Knights coach used the Cup to help launch a charity his day with it, taking it to a kickoff event for the Cassidy Murray Foundation in Milton, Massachusetts.
VGK Coach Bruce Cassidy spends his morning supporting the Cassidy Murray Foundation (Milton, MA) #StanleyCup @GoldenKnights @NHL @HockeyHallFame pic.twitter.com/6weubrxVjG
— Philip Pritchard (@keeperofthecup) July 14, 2023
The Cassidy Murray Foundation hopes to increase access to mental health resources including trauma and grief therapy to help those experiencing a loss. Donations can be made at cassidymurrayfoundation.org.
Cassidy also brought the Cup to New Seabury, Massachusetts, and took pictures with his family at Cape Cod.
Now there’s a sight to sea 🌊😃
The Cassidy family enjoyed their afternoon on the beach on Cape Cod with the #StanleyCup 🏆#VegasBorn | @Vegas pic.twitter.com/PSziN9LoEd
— 🏆 – Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) July 14, 2023
George McPhee — July 12
The Knights president of hockey operations spent his day with the Cup with family and friends in Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts.
The #StanleyCup made a stop to Marthaâs Vineyard yesterday to hang out with George McPhee and his family ð #VegasBorn | @Vegas pic.twitter.com/T3NAEqoICr
— ð – Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) July 13, 2023
McPhee was one of the team’s chief architects along with general manager Kelly McCrimmon. He was the Knights’ general manager their first two seasons before giving McCrimmon more responsibility.
Misha Donskov — July 11
Donskov, a Knights assistant coach, received the Cup on Tuesday in Columbus, Ohio.
He worked with players on individual skills and helped several grow their games. Left wing William Carrier was one frequent pupil.
The @StanleyCup is spending part of the day at the Chiller at Easton courtesy of @GoldenKnights assistant coach Misha Donskov. So fitting as Mishaâs father Paul and Donskov Hockey have been vital to hockeyâs growth in Columbus. Great to see the Cup chillinâ here. #NHL pic.twitter.com/B4HaOSivCH
— Dave Maetzold (@DMaetzMedia) July 11, 2023
With the growth of hockey in Columbusâmuch of it due to the efforts of the Donskov family, you canât help but think many who came to see the @StanleyCup Chiller at Easton today have a more realistic shot of having their name on the Cup than ever before. pic.twitter.com/hKcpHg1okK
— Dave Maetzold (@DMaetzMedia) July 11, 2023
Donskov, who it was announced is leaving the organization July 2, also played a huge role in the Knights’ success growing youth hockey in Nevada.
Alex Pietrangelo — July 10
Pietrangelo was the second player to receive the Cup, spending the day with it in St. Louis on Monday doing some private events.
The #StanleyCup returns to St. Louis! Alex Pietrangelo starts his day with a nutritious breakfast and his other favourite sport. Finally, a cool ride with family/friends for dinner at a great restaurant (Italianâ¦of course). (St. Louis, MO) @GoldenKnights @NHL @HockeyHallFame pic.twitter.com/UHnNbXXj36
— Philip Pritchard (@keeperofthecup) July 11, 2023
Pietrangelo’s wife Jayne’s family is from the area and they still spend time during the offseason there with their four children. He played for the Blues from 2008-20, winning his first championship in 2019.
The #StanleyCup returns to St. Louis! Alex Pietrangelo starts his day with a nutritious breakfast and his other favourite sport. Finally, a cool ride with family/friends for dinner at a great restaurant (Italianâ¦of course). (St. Louis, MO) @GoldenKnights @NHL @HockeyHallFame pic.twitter.com/UHnNbXXj36
— Philip Pritchard (@keeperofthecup) July 11, 2023
Alex Pietrangelo is spending the day with his family and Stanley ð¥°#VegasBorn | @Vegas pic.twitter.com/RlB9uAMuXg
— ð – Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) July 10, 2023
Nicolas Roy — July 8
Roy was the first player to get the Cup, taking it to his hometown of Amos, Quebec. There was a town parade in his honor Saturday and a party at his home later in the night.
First up on the 2023 #StanleyCup @GoldenKnights Tour: Nicolas Roy! A great day of food, family & friends in NW Quebecâ¦and no wildfires. (Amos, QC) @NHL @HockeyHallFame pic.twitter.com/JfVwZPzZJP
— Philip Pritchard (@keeperofthecup) July 10, 2023