News - A day with the Stanley Cup!

Original posting from Hockey Hall of Fame - Stanley Cup Journals
http://www.hhof.com/html/exSCJ07_27.shtml

Anaheim Ducks tough guy Brad May and his family drop by his grandmother's home to show off the Stanley Cup. (Mike Bolt/HHOF)

A veteran of the battles of fifteen NHL seasons, Brad May must have been haunted wondering whether he would ever have his name engraved on the Stanley Cup. But wonderful things happen to good people. After starting his sixteenth season, May was traded from Colorado to Anaheim on February 27, 2007. The Ducks clearly were looking at infusing some veteran savvy and moxy to their line-up, and came up with both in a package called Brad May.

When the Stanley Cup arrived at the Markham, Ontario home of Brad's Mom, Linell, on Wednesday, August 15, Brad had not yet arrived, but he showed up shortly afterwards, ready to start his celebration.

Brad first took the Stanley Cup to show his grandmother in Markham. There was a reception for Brad at Grace Anglican Church in Markham, the church attended by his mother and grandmother. Then, it was over to his father's house in Goodwood, a lovely home edging onto the Coppinwood Golf Club. While there, Brad visited his paternal grandmother in Uxbridge, then returned to the house where he saw a number of old friends, including George Burnett, who was his coach with the Niagara Falls Thunder. Over at the golf course, Brad set the Cup on display on the third tee, and members could get a picture with Lord Stanley's prize.

At the Duchess of Markham, Brad May (near) and former NHL'er Steve Thomas (far) coincidentally ran into each other. (Mike Bolt/HHOF)

After lunch, it was over to the main street of Stouffville, where hundreds lined the street to catch a glimpse of Brad May and the Stanley Cup. "I just want to share it (the Stanley Cup)," said Brad. "It is so much greater than just us as hockey players. There's an idealism to winning the Stanley Cup, and in there is a fabric of Canada — being a kid, chasing a dream and celebrating when your friends succeed." He and his wife and their two children rode in a Corvette convertible the colour of the Stanley Cup. Led by the representatives from both the police and fire departments, the Mays laughed as they heard a recurring chant: "Stanley Cup, Lucky Duck!" Many along the parade route were wearing a specially designed t-shirt that read: May Day, August 15, 2007.

The parade route culminated in a huge gathering of fans at Bruce's Mill Conservation Area, where close to 2,000 people congregated at the Community Safety Village to see Brad and his Cup. The day was declared 'Brad May Day', and politicians talked about the ideal role model Brad portrays to local youth. York Region Police Chief Armand LaBarge gave Brad a ballcap, after congratulating him on his success, then posed for a photo with the Duck and his Cup.

That evening, Brad took the Stanley Cup to the Duchess of Markham, an outstanding bar housed in a heritage building in the beautiful town of Markham. Coincidentally, Brad ran into former NHL sniper Steve Thomas while there. Steve, who played with the Markham Waxers at the time he had a role in the Rob Lowe hockey movie 'Youngblood,' lives in the area, but couldn't stay to celebrate with May as his son had a soccer practice.

Brad May prepares to fly in style via his personal helicopter nicknamed "May Day" toward Muskoka Woods camp. (Mike Bolt/HHOF)

After a few pints and many toasts with highschool pals, it was back to Stouffville and a visit to the Crossroads Restaurant on Main Street. Keith Acton, the former NHL star and an assistant coach with the Toronto Maple Leafs (and a Stanley Cup champion with the Oilers in 1988), just happened to be there, and wished Brad his heartiest congratulations. Many of May's childhood teammates from the Stouffville area congregated to celebrate with their long-time friend.

Thursday, August 16 meant a roadtrip for Brad and the Stanley Cup. May took the Cup up to his cottage on Lake Joseph in Ontario's extraordinary Muskoka region. Imagine rising to the faint cry of a loon in a sun-drenched cottage surrounded by wilderness. Life doesn't get much better! Add drinking freshly-brewed coffee with the Stanley Cup placed on the table in front of you and it's as though you have died and have gone to hockey heaven.

With the last of the coffee drained from the pot, Brad climbed into a black helicopter with 'May Day' and an image of the Stanley Cup on its side, was handed the Cup and took off for Muskoka Woods, a Christian camp where youngsters between 7 and 17 participate in all manner of sports and activities. Greeted by a constant 'Quack, quack, quack,' Brad spoke with the campers and let them get pictures taken with the Stanley Cup.

Then, May took the Cup across the street to a special place called Camp Oochigeas. Princess Oochigeas was a young girl who showed great courage in overcoming some physical challenges. The camp has borrowed the name of the brave princess for its own purposes. Camp Oochigeas gives children challenged by cancer a place to briefly escape from the routine of doctors and hospitals and experience a 400-acre wilderness along with other children facing the same obstacles. Brad sat with the children, spoke with them and showed a side that belies the player we so often see on the ice. The children adored May, clinging to him like ugly on an ape.

Brad May and his wife Brigitte hoist the Cup at en entrepreneur's cottage in Muskoka. (Mike Bolt/HHOF)

After waving goodbye to his new friends, Brad hoisted the Stanley Cup over his head, leaving an indelible impression on the youngsters at Camp Oochigeas. At that point, a motor boat took Brad and the Stanley Cup over to the incredible cottage of Bob Genovese, an entrepreneur. 'Roughing it' has a whole different connotation to Genovese, who used his manmade waterfall as a spectacular backdrop to photos with Brad May and the Stanley Cup. Quite a party was taking place, with hockey celebrities Wendel Clark, Don Lever and agents Don Meehan and Pat Morris in attendance. The Stanley Cup's cousin was there, too. The owner of the Hamilton Bulldogs of the American Hockey League, Michael Andlauer, is a neighbour of Brad's on Lake Joseph, and had the Calder Cup there with him following Hamilton's championship win last spring. It's very rare to have both the Calder and Stanley Cups together, so the photographs were fast and furious capturing the two, side-by-side, there on Lake Joseph.

Two days of celebrating sadly came to an end for Brad May. "I don't think you can ever match the emotion you share with your teammates on that night (when the Stanley Cup is awarded), but this has been nice," May summarized. "It's an unbelievable feeling to actually touch people and put some smiles on some faces."

Brad May certainly did that!