Stanley Cup Cheers Franklin on Sept 11

In an upbeat counterpoint to the many somber remembrances held locally and nationally to commemorate the Setpember 11 attacks of 2001, the Franklin Rod and Gun Club played host to the iconic Stanley Cup for approximately three hours on Friday.

The Stanley Cup is the championship trophy awarded annually to the National Hockey League (NHL) playoff champion. It is the oldest existing trophy to be awarded to a professional sports franchise in North America, and the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) considers it to be one of the "most important championships available to the sport".

It came to Franklin courtesy of Bob Luccini, a former Franklin High School hockey coach for more than 20 years, who has spent his more recent career as a scout for the Carolina Hurricanes. And that's the connection making this visit possible. The Hurricanes won the conference finals this year in five games, advancing to the Stanley Cup Final for the first time since 2006. They went on on to win their second Stanley Cup over the Vegas Golden Knights with a six game series win.

Hundreds of visitors and scores of cars packed  Florence Street and the parking areas adjacent to the  club.  Members of the Rod and Gun Club managed traffic and operations and the property.

And the Cup was displayed against the backdrop of Uncas Pond under bright sunshine.

There are actually three Stanley Cups: the original bowl of the "Dominion Hockey Challenge Cup", the authenticated "Presentation Cup", and the spelling-corrected "Permanent Cup" on display at the Hockey Hall of Fame whenever the Presentation Cup is not available.