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Penguins enable teacher to deliver on longstanding promise 41 · Friday, December 11, 2009 OAKVILLE BEAVER · www.oakvillebeaver.com Continued from page 40 amateur players in Ontario. Having scouted for NHL teams since 1996, the young Penguins team represented Dave McNamara's best chance to win that elusive Cup. He told his students that if the Penguins ever won, he would bring the Cup to the school, where he teaches physical education. When the Penguins won a thrilling seven-game series against the Detroit Red Wings in June, McNamara got the chance to deliver on his promise. One of hockey's best traditions It may not be hockey's oldest tradition, but it is certainly one of its best. Since 1995, each member of the championship team gets to spend a day with the Stanley Cup. McNamara's big day finally arrived Wednesday. The Cup flew in from Newfoundland in the morning, after spending the previous day with another Penguins scout, and headed straight for Loyola. After a couple of minutes inside the gym office to get some pictures with fellow staff members, McNamara emerged from the office wearing a Penguins sweater and hat. In front of about 100 students and staff, he planted a kiss on the silver trophy and again hoisted the Cup above his head. (Really, could you ever tire of doing that?) After some more pictures, McNamara carried the Cup out of the gym and down the hallway. You almost expected your car keys to fly out of your pocket and stick to professional sports' oldest trophy because it's like a magnet. As it made its way down the hallway, heads turned and people were drawn into its wake. Stopping in a classroom, McNamara posed for pictures with students. "It's huge," said 17-year-old Mathieu Rocca. The Cup stands a fraction of an inch under three feet but Rocca could just as easily be talking about its impact as its stature. Cup's history sets it apart "Nothing this big ever happens," said Michael Frymus, a Grade 12 student. "It's the Stanley Cup," said Grade 9 student Aldo Ventresca, as if no other explanation was necessary. "How cool is it that it came to Oakville? It's got such a good history." It's the history of the Cup that sets it apart from all other trophies. While other sports create a new championship trophy each year, the Cup is literally passed from one hand to the next year after year. replica Cup that stays at the Hockey Hall When you wrap your arms around the of Fame while the real Cup is on tour). Cup, you're hugging the same Cup that Each team is allowed to engrave 52 names Wayne Gretzky lifted above his head, that of players and team staff on the Cup. In went for a swim in Mario Lemieux's pool, 1984, Edmonton Oilers owner Peter that Kris Draper's newborn Pocklington submitted the name of his daughter....well, let's just father, Basil, though he say you might want to "It's the Stanley Cup. had no connection to the think twice about drink- How cool is it that it team. When the NHL dising out of it. covered this, they had his came to Oakville? It's got "Sidney Crosby such a good history." name crossed out. touched this," says Vicky Though McNamara Procyk, a member of the Loyola student received a Stanley Cup ring Loyola girls' hockey team Aldo Ventresca -- which he displayed McNamara coaches. proudly -- he didn't have his Procyk has considered using her name included on the Cup. Looking at her coach's connections to forward a mar- father smiling as he was having his picture riage proposal to the Penguins star, "but taken a few feet away, Katherine didn't think I'm sure he gets lots of requests. There's her father was too concerned about that. probably a lineup." "It's amazing to see him so happy," she It probably resembles the line that said. "To accomplish this, it is such a big snaked through Loyola's hallway as the dream of his." Cup proved it can have an impact beyond And Wednesday, he got to share the bringing smiles to the faces of all who dream. come in contact with it. Students lined up over the lunch hour, paying $2 each to have their picture taken with the Cup. The money will go to charity, including the Brother Bear Foundation, which raises money for brain tumour research. The foundation was started by, and is now carried on in memory of, Loyola student Austin Brasil. "He was a phenomenal student," said Olivia Jarvis as she collected toonies from students. "It really means a lot to our school and the community really gets involved." A dream come true McNamara once again lifted the Cup over his head, his back toward the camera so the name and the number 09 on the back of his sweater were visible. "That thing is heavy," he said as he returned it to the table. Apparently you can tire of lifting the 35-pound trophy. Which is also a good thing because the Cup is a little tired after stops in five countries, seven provinces and 10 states From a distance, the Cup looks perfect. Getting the rare chance to look at it up close, though, you can actually see the history -- and not just in the names of players and teams engraved into it. The dents. The scratches. The slightly crooked bands that contain the names of the winners. The bowl, which isn't quite even all the way around. Of course, it's the imperfections that tell you've got the real deal (there's a NIKKI WESLEY / OAKVILLE BEAVER UP CLOSE: Loyola student Rusean Chambers takes a close look at the Stanley Cup Wednesday. Perfect Christmas Gifts for Your Golf-A-Holic TWO LOCATIONS TO SERVE YOU THIS CHRISTMAS! MAPLEVIEW MALL on the Upper Level or come visit our PRO SHOP at the Golf Course No. 1 Sideroad & Cedar Springs Rd. GREEN FEE PASSES Make A Perfect Christmas Gift ! Come See Us At 905-336-3660 www.icesports.com 905-845-6989