Whereas the San Jose Sharks have by no means gained the Stanley Cup, one in all their former coaches might be bringing the well-known silver trophy house to the South Bay for a day.
Brett Heimlich, who labored with the Sharks for 9 years, helped the Colorado Avalanche win the Hockey Championship final June. And — per custom — every member of the profitable crew will get 24 hours with the historic trophy.
Heimlich selected to spend his day with the 35-and-a-quarter-inch-high cup internet hosting a non-public victory get together on Sept. 4 at his dad and mom’ house in Los Gatos the place he grew up.
“It’s the identical Stanley Cup that Wayne Gretski’s touched, Lou Robinson’s touched, a few of the greats. It’s the identical precise trophy,” Heimlich mentioned. “My title might be on it. It’s an honor to be part of it. It’s nonetheless surreal, it’s nonetheless sinking in.”
The cup will fly in that Sunday morning from Southern California after spending the earlier night time with one of many gamers.
Heimlich mentioned he already has plans to serve popcorn and a batch of margaritas out of the cup on the get together, and fill it with a mammoth ice cream sundae to shock his niece and nephew.
The cup belongs to the Hockey Corridor of Fame, and one of many museum’s representatives, often called the Keeper of the Cup, travels with the trophy because it goes from gamers to coaches and workers — typically around the globe.
Simply this summer season, the trophy traveled to London, spent the day on the coast of Jap Canada and was even stuffed with a slurpee.
The names of every member of the profitable crew are engraved on one of many trophy’s bands. Through the years, some bands have been retired and placed on show on the Hockey Corridor of Fame to make room for the names of recent winners.
Heimlich has been an assistant video coach for the Avalanche for six seasons. He helps the crew put together for video games by analyzing opponents to determine their weaknesses, and makes changes in real-time through the sport.
The Avalanche beat the two-time defending champions, Tampa Bay Lightning, 2-1 in Sport 6 of the ultimate, marking the third time in franchise historical past that the Avalanche have taken house the Stanley Cup.
Would he ever come again to the Sharks? Heimlich mentioned the South Bay will all the time be house, however he and his household are in a terrific spot in Colorado.
“I feel if the chance was right, it could be exhausting to show down,” Heimlich mentioned. “As of now, it’s a terrific expertise for my youngsters to develop up [in Colorado], and simply personally I’m in a very great place.”