WASHINGTON — The line was long through the courtyard of the Canadian embassy Sunday, where people wearing different colored Canadian maple leaves with CFL jerseys celebrated Canada Day.
The star of the show? The Stanley Cup. After all, it’s the most revered trophy in North American sports.
“It’s because of the age,” said Peg Brandon, of Ottawa. She is living in the U.S. while her husband is stationed at the embassy. “It’s been around for how many years? Over 100.”
“And it’s neat because everybody’s names go on it,” said her husband, Rich Williams. “So it’s kind of personalized.”
He also learned that some players have had their names emblazoned inside the cup.
“You can only see it when you get up close,” said Williams. “It looks like the first team to win it and all their names … Everything is in the bottom of the bowl, and ‘presented by Lord Stanley,’ and the whole deal … You get to see it in person, you can get more detail.”
Even the keeper of the Cup was thrilled to be celebrating Canada Day at the embassy.
Walt Neubrand is one of the select few who gets to travel with the Stanley Cup, ensuring it doesn’t get damaged as it tours around the world.
“When my boss told me, ‘Eh, you’re taking it to the embassy on Canada Day,’ I said, ‘Ah, great,’” said Neubrand. “This is a neat experience I’ve never had before.”
“It kind of makes me feel like I’m at home away from home,” he said.
