Approximately 1,000 people packed in the Dominion District Community Centre for a chance to see, hug, or have their picture taken with the coveted Stanley Cup.
Chris McLean of Glace Bay said he had been waiting in the parking lot since 1:30 p.m. with his son Blake, 5, to see it. They brought things to do and food.
"I wasn't sure about the lineup and didn't want to miss it and wanted to make sure my son got to see it, too."
The cup was brought to the area through the efforts of Mickey McNeil, founder of Mickey's Original Six, and Mecco Construction, which came on board as a sponsor.
McNeil said between 7 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Tuesday he received at least 85 phone calls regarding additional requests to see the cup but couldn't oblige.
"I'd like to, and wish we could, but we only had a six-hour window with the cup."
The cup arrived in Glace Bay shortly after 3 p.m. and was taken to Mecco Construction.
"We were asked to come on as a sponsor and jumped on board," said owner Gary Chant.
"I think it's great bringing something like this to Cape Breton, good for all ages."
Mario Della-Savia and Phil Pritchard, keepers of the cup for the Hockey Hall of Fame, travelled on a Dominion Volunteer Fire Department truck to the Dominion rink with the cup, escorted by Glace Bay and Scotchtown fire trucks and the Cape Breton Regional Police.
"One of our escorts had the theme song from 'Hockey Night in Canada' blaring along the way," said Della-Savia, who confirming it was the first time they transported the cup by fire truck.
"We had a great time, there were some people, businesses and banks cheering along the way."
More than 90 members of the Glace Bay Minor Hockey tots had a hockey game at the Dominion rink, which ended with the cup brought out on the ice to cheers from the crowd.
Player Carson Hogan, 6, said he liked the cup a lot, while touching it.
"I like it because it's really shiny," he added.
Dist. 10 Coun. Darrell Flynn presented McNeil with a certificate of recognition at the event.
"He was also responsible for bringing the RCMP Musical Ride here a few years ago. I think it's just wonderful what he does for the community. Big and small kids are excited over the cup being here — it's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."
By 6 p.m. at least 500 people had lined up in the MacNeil Room waiting to touch the Stanley Cup.
Kyle Allen of Albert Bridge had been at the rink since 2 p.m. with son Caelin, 10, as well as Caelin's best friend Riley Dilny, 10, of Frenchvale and mother Shirley Dilny.
"My son really really wanted to see the Stanley Cup so we came," Allen said.
Caelin said it was a once-in-a-lifetime chance to see it at his age.
"Yes, it was worth the wait," he added, shortly after having his photo taken with the cup.
The last time the Stanley Cup has been in Cape Breton was in 2010 when Dennis Bonvie brought it to Port Hawkesbury as a scout with Chicago Blackhawks, which won the cup that year. The last time it was in the Glace Bay area was in 2008 as part of Scotiabank's Celebration of Hockey Tour.
Approximately 1,000 people packed in the Dominion District Community Centre for a chance to see, hug, or have their picture taken with the coveted Stanley Cup.
Chris McLean of Glace Bay said he had been waiting in the parking lot since 1:30 p.m. with his son Blake, 5, to see it. They brought things to do and food.
"I wasn't sure about the lineup and didn't want to miss it and wanted to make sure my son got to see it, too."
The cup was brought to the area through the efforts of Mickey McNeil, founder of Mickey's Original Six, and Mecco Construction, which came on board as a sponsor.
McNeil said between 7 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Tuesday he received at least 85 phone calls regarding additional requests to see the cup but couldn't oblige.
"I'd like to, and wish we could, but we only had a six-hour window with the cup."
The cup arrived in Glace Bay shortly after 3 p.m. and was taken to Mecco Construction.
"We were asked to come on as a sponsor and jumped on board," said owner Gary Chant.
"I think it's great bringing something like this to Cape Breton, good for all ages."
Mario Della-Savia and Phil Pritchard, keepers of the cup for the Hockey Hall of Fame, travelled on a Dominion Volunteer Fire Department truck to the Dominion rink with the cup, escorted by Glace Bay and Scotchtown fire trucks and the Cape Breton Regional Police.
"One of our escorts had the theme song from 'Hockey Night in Canada' blaring along the way," said Della-Savia, who confirming it was the first time they transported the cup by fire truck.
"We had a great time, there were some people, businesses and banks cheering along the way."
More than 90 members of the Glace Bay Minor Hockey tots had a hockey game at the Dominion rink, which ended with the cup brought out on the ice to cheers from the crowd.
Player Carson Hogan, 6, said he liked the cup a lot, while touching it.
"I like it because it's really shiny," he added.
Dist. 10 Coun. Darrell Flynn presented McNeil with a certificate of recognition at the event.
"He was also responsible for bringing the RCMP Musical Ride here a few years ago. I think it's just wonderful what he does for the community. Big and small kids are excited over the cup being here — it's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."
By 6 p.m. at least 500 people had lined up in the MacNeil Room waiting to touch the Stanley Cup.
Kyle Allen of Albert Bridge had been at the rink since 2 p.m. with son Caelin, 10, as well as Caelin's best friend Riley Dilny, 10, of Frenchvale and mother Shirley Dilny.
"My son really really wanted to see the Stanley Cup so we came," Allen said.
Caelin said it was a once-in-a-lifetime chance to see it at his age.
"Yes, it was worth the wait," he added, shortly after having his photo taken with the cup.
The last time the Stanley Cup has been in Cape Breton was in 2010 when Dennis Bonvie brought it to Port Hawkesbury as a scout with Chicago Blackhawks, which won the cup that year. The last time it was in the Glace Bay area was in 2008 as part of Scotiabank's Celebration of Hockey Tour.
