Traverse City Record-Eagle

Archive: Monday

Related Photos

  • Jan-Michael Stump

    STANLEY CUP VISIT

  • Jan-Michael Stump

    STANLEY CUP VISIT

  • Jan-Michael Stump

    STANLEY CUP VISIT
September 1, 2008

Stanley Cup visits Traverse City

Dallas Drake brings Cup for fundraiser

By MIKE ECKERT

TRAVERSE CITY -- The Stanley Cup wasn't just by the bay Monday, it actually went out for a boat ride across West Bay in Traverse City.

Former Detroit Red Wing Dallas Drake brought the NHL's championship trophy to the Open Space downtown Monday for "Stanley By The Bay," a fundraiser for Grand Traverse Hockey Association's New Skater Fund.

When the five-hour event came to an end, Drake -- who won the Cup in June with the Red Wings -- hoisted the trophy and carried it to a nearby boat that was set to take him to his home for a private party.

More than 1,300 hockey fans had their picture taken with the Stanley Cup and officials said the event raised more than $40,000.

"I was expecting about half of that," event director Dr. Kerry Russell said. "Dallas is a friend of mine and he asked me to run this fundraiser. The nice thing was most people got what they wanted out of it. We didn't have to turn away too many people."

Hockey fans young and old alike waited in line to get a moment with the Stanley Cup, which sat in a red and white tent just off of the bay.

David and Heather Tudor from Buckley brought their 10-month old daughter Maria for a memorable family photo with the Stanley Cup.

"She grabbed hold of the Cup just in time (for the picture)," Heather Tudor said. "She's going to grow up to play for the U.S. hockey team."

Sunny Collins and Bev Gaudette came down from Omena together to get their first look at the Cup. It was fitting, since they watched the Red Wings clinch the title together in June.

"We were just hooping and hollering like everybody else," Collins said. "We enjoy the games and enjoy each other's company."

Gaudette said that Collins has been coming over to watch Detroit's games televised on cable for nearly a decade.

"Whenever it's possible, we get together," Gaudette said. "My husband doesn't watch, but we both enjoy hockey."

And having Drake on the ice was an added bonus last season, as the 16-year vet closed out his career with the team he started with.

"It feels more real with him being a local boy and all," Gaudette said.

Drake, who hails from British Columbia but has lived in TC for years, was in an adjacent tent to the Cup signing autographs for the 5-hour session.

"Dallas was tireless," Russell said. "We had to pull him away from there."

Drake signed shirts and hats while chatting with the spectators.

He even had some odd requests, such as saying hello to a Red Wings fan who couldn't make it out because he's attending school at the University of Michigan. Drake obliged, and talked to the fan on a cell phone while his mom took pictures of the moment.

The event was Drake's second day with the Stanley Cup after having a parade and a celebration in his hometown in July.

"He asked (Detroit GM) Kenny Holland if he could split his time," Russell said. "It worked out they put it on Labor Day. I think they did that as a gift to Traverse City as well."

Text Only