It's the greatest sports trophy in the world, and it comes with one of the coolest sports traditions in the world.
It's the Stanley Cup, and it was here in North Vancouver Wednesday thanks to the annual summer tour that allows each member of the winning team to spend a whole day doing basically whatever they want with Lord Stanley's famous silverware.
The bringer of this great gift was Martin Jones, a North Vancouver native who had his name etched into the Cup after serving as the backup goaltender for the Los Angeles Kings as they won their second championship of the past three years this spring.
Jones and the Cup arrived in grand style, riding a Zamboni through an honour guard of young players on his way to the North Shore Winter Club, home of the rink where he honed his game before hitting the big time.
"I remember playing here for four years and those are some amazing memories I have, and so to come back and receive this kind of welcome, it was awesome," Jones said in a short media scrum during his visit to the club. "I think that's what's so special about this thing - it's when you're able to share it, especially at a place I spent a lot of time at as a kid. To come back and give back a little bit, it's fun for them and it's fun for me as well.. .. There were some happy kids out there. That's what it's all about for sure."
Jones then did a question and answer session with the young players - many of whom were sporting Winter Club T-shirts with the name Jones and his No. 31 on the back - before posing for photos and making a brief appearance at a road hockey festival that broke out in his honour.
Jones and the Cup then made a quick trip to Seymour Golf and Country Club, where he is a member, before heading up Grouse Mountain for a cool photoop on top of the city.
Check out the Twitter feed of Philip Pritchard, the trophy's white-gloved babysitter, to follow the Cup as it finishes off its summer tour. After the North Vancouver visit Pritchard took to his account, @keeperofthecup, to send out a picture of Jones atop Grouse Mountain holding old Stanley in one hand and an owl in the other.
"What a hoot," the caption read.
