The Stanley Cup has been through it all and has received its fair share of damage over the years.
However, it has never happened quite as quickly as it did last night after the Colorado Avalanche claimed their first championship since 2001.
After the players and staff got their chance to hoist the iconic trophy, it was time for the classic team photo with Lord Stanley.
Most of the team was in position as Nicolas Aube-Kubel skated the trophy over to join his teammates.
Unfortunately for Aube-Kubel, he lost his footing as he approached the dogpile of Avalanche players and coaches.
Nicholas Aube-Kubel takes a tumble with the #StanleyCup 😬@Avalanche | #GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/bvQJJIyH7K
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) June 27, 2022
The Stanley Cup is something you carry with both hands, which meant there was nothing but the trophy to break his fall and it caused a sizable dent in the base.
The reaction from his teammates said it all and the collective look of shock was caught on camera to live on forever.
A short time later, the Hockey Hall of Fame’s Keeper of the Cup explained that the trophy being damaged while still on the ice during celebrations was a first time occurrence.
“I don’t even know if they had it five minutes and there’s a dent at the bottom already,” said Phil Pritchard with a smile.
“I guess it’s a new record today. Five minutes into the presentation it’s happened. It’s the first time it’s ever happened on the ice.”
Pritchard noted that they will go through the process of figuring out how to repair the trophy, but the Stanley Cup tour will go on this summer.
As is tradition, each player will get a full day to spend with the well-earned trophy, which is typically centred around a celebration in their hometown.
