The Carolina Hurricanes have added their own chapter to Stanley Cup lore, but it comes with a few dents. After winning the NHL championship on Sunday night, the team's celebrations reportedly left the iconic trophy damaged.
Party at Teets Bar Leaves Marks
In a video posted on social media Tuesday, a Hurricanes player was seen carrying the Stanley Cup out of Teets, a local bar in Raleigh, North Carolina. The footage clearly showed noticeable dents around the top rim of the trophy. Teets also shared multiple pictures and videos of the celebration on Instagram, depicting players behind the bar, on the bar, and drinking from the Cup in a time-honored tradition.
It remains unclear exactly how and when the damage occurred, but it likely happened during the bar portion of the championship festivities, based on footage of the team arriving at the venue.
Other Celebrations
The Hurricanes' wild celebrations began immediately after their Game 6 victory over the Vegas Golden Knights. Coach Rod Brind'Amour, a former team captain, was spotted tossing the trophy in the air and catching it on the ice in a viral moment. Later that night, the team partied at Omnia nightclub in Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, hoisting the Cup behind the DJ booth.
Not the First Time
This is far from the first instance of the Stanley Cup being damaged during championship celebrations. Last year, the Florida Panthers dented the trophy in at least two spots. One dent was at the top of the cup section, and another larger dent appeared on the base after a night of partying. Such incidents have become part of hockey folklore, and the Cup's keeper, the Hockey Hall of Fame, typically repairs any damage.
The Hurricanes' victory marks their first championship since 2006 and the second in franchise history, dating back to their time as the Hartford Whalers. The team's exuberance has left its mark on Lord Stanley's Mug, but the memories will last a lifetime.
