Matt Cullen is as competitive in hockey as he is in whiffle ball, as his 'Briefs' outscored the 'Boxers' to take the whiffle ball championship, and earned the Stanley Cup.

Briefs edge Boxers
to win Stanley Cup!
By Kevin Shea
Hockey Hall of Fame

When you think about sports and former Carolina center Matt Cullen, naturally, you think about hockey. But, like most elite athletes, Cullen loves other sports as well. Nonetheless, it is hard to wrap your head around the fact that Cullen's second great athletic love is wiffle ball.

Born in Virginia, Minnesota, and an alumnus of St. Cloud State, Cullen spends his off-seasons in nearby Fargo, North Dakota. And it is in Fargo that we visit for a sensational wiffle ball tournament. Oh yeah, and a visit from the Stanley Cup!

Cullen was more than a little anxious on Thursday, July 20. "Is the Cup on its way? Will it arrive in time for our wiffle ball tournament? I'd like to have the Cup here for the tournament if we possibly can. Has the Stanley Cup ever been to a wiffle ball tournament? Will this be the first one?"

The Stanley Cup arrived on the scheduled Thursday for its inaugural wiffle ball tournament. Now, this was no random game that spontaneously broke out one afternoon. Cullen's wiffle ball tournament was highly organized. The Boxers were facing the Briefs in this exciting competition. The Boxers, wearing red sweaters, were comprised of a team that included Hurricane Andrew Ladd as well as NHLers Mark Parrish, Shjon Podein and Jeff Nielsen. Actor Erik Stolhanske, a Minnesota native who appeared as State Trooper "Rabbit" Rota in "Super Troopers" in 2001 and in "The Dukes of Hazzard" in 2005, also suited up for the Boxers. Wearing blue, the Briefs included Cullen and his younger brothers Joe and Mark as well as NHLers Ryan Kraft and Wyatt Smith.

It was an amazing tournament. Parrish hammered three home runs for the Boxers but it was Cullen who took MVP honors. Truth be told, because he negotiated to bring the Stanley Cup to the wiffle ball tourney, he'd have been the MVP anyway, but Cullen hit a monstrous dinger and also made some incredible defensive plays in right field, including one where he reached over the fence in fair territory to steal a sure-fire homer from the Boxers. Cullen and his Briefs (so to speak) defeated the Boxers, 19-17, to earn the right to parade around the wiffle ball field with the Stanley Cup. The Boxers cried foul (literally ? they felt that a foul ball had determined the game), but Cullen stood firm, gripped the Cup and led the Briefs, followed by the Boxers, into the house, where everyone took turns sipping from the Stanley Cup.

When Cullen was originally having the house built, he left an alcove above the fireplace for a specific reason. "That'll be perfect if I ever win the Cup," he said at the time. "I'll put it right in there." Sure enough, Cullen lifted the trophy into the space and the Cup fit perfectly! A yellow spotlight dazzled as it bounced off the patina of Lord Stanley's Cup.

After spending a little longer sipping out of the Cup's bowl, the night came to an end with Cullen and his wife Bridget taking the Stanley Cup to bed.

* * *

Aaron Ward brought the cup to the C.S. Mott's Children's Hospital, located at his alma mater, the University of Michigan.

On the morning of Friday, July 21, Cullen and the Cup were picked up by a Hummer limousine for the ride over to the Oxbow Golf and Country Club in Oxbow, North Dakota, where a golf tournament was set to tee off for Cullen's charity, Cully's Kids.

Cullen and his wife set up Cullen's Children's Foundation in 2003, helping, among other things, children battling cancer. This was the second year for the golf tournament. On the way, after picking up Ladd, he and Cullen laughed as they saw a sign perched just outside the golf course: "Welcome to Oxbow, Stanley Cup. How about a peek?"

The Hummer pulled into the parking lot of the magnificent golf club. "I need my coffee," pleaded Cullen, as he lifted the Stanley Cup out of the limo. "Where can I get a coffee?"

Cullen didn't golf, instead making certain that each foursome had its picture taken with the Stanley Cup. Every once in awhile, he would lean over almost panic-stricken and query, "Any idea where I can get a coffee?"

Just after 10 a.m., a bus carrying a dozen children pulled into the Oxbow lot. The kids, all wearing orange t-shirts, filed off the purple and yellow vehicle accompanied by a family member. Cullen and his wife called out to each child by name as they stepped off the bus, and led them up the stairs to the clubhouse. Several of the kids are still undergoing treatment while a few others have beaten the brutal disease.

Each of Cully's Kids sat with the Stanley Cup, Bridget and Matt, a cup of coffee in hand. The bowl of the Cup was already filled with Hawaiian Punch, and the children were thrilled when Cullen pulled out a handful of straws. "Grab a straw, you guys," he smiled. "Let's see if we can empty the Stanley Cup!" Each kid stuck a straw into the historic trophy and sucked hard to get a mouthful of punch. Cullen, meanwhile, looked for another cup of coffee.

Cullen laughed. "I almost believed you for a second, pal. Then I remembered there are no hills anywhere near here!!" At 7, Cullen took the Stanley Cup inside Playmakers. Before the party was set to begin, he winked. "Watch this, I'm going to punk Aaron Ward!"

"Hey, Wardo, it's Cully," he started, having dialed Ward from his cellphone. "What's going on? You're at the Tigers game? Listen, I got a little problem here I've gotta talk to you about. The Stanley Cup can't come to your party. We were having a few laughs and the Cup got dropped." After pausing a second or two, with an incredulous Ward stating that he had to contact his wife to change their celebration arrangements, Cullen continued. "I know it sucks and no, I'm not joking! The Hockey Hall of Fame has to ship it off to Montreal to get fixed. No, I'm NOT kidding. It's damaged, Aaron. I mean, it was an accident, but it's still damaged."

Ward, who was Cullen's teammate with the Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes, will be his teammate with the New York Rangers in 2006-07. Ward had one statement to conclude the call. "Cullen, you're a lightweight! You'll get yours in New York. And one more thing," he chuckled. "Cully, you're dead!"

* * *

At his Bloomfield Hills home, Aaron got the real deal, while his kids sported the miniatures Ward won with Detroit.

The party that evening was a rocking affair. A silent auction included a private box to a Minnesota Twins ballgame, a signed Bobby Orr jersey, miscellaneous other jerseys and sticks, and the very first New York Rangers' jersey with "Cullen" on the back and the number 5 he'll wear in New York. "I wanted 8 but that number isn't available," explained Cullen. "I like single digits and my agent suggested that I take 5, so that's what I'll be wearing." He explained how he was melancholy about leaving the Hurricanes but excited about the new opportunity with the Rangers. The Cullen Rangers' jersey, by the way, went for $3,000!

Like last year, Cullen hired The Zambonis to perform. The rock band from Connecticut performs all hockey-themed songs, including their most recognized track, "I Wanna Drive the Zamboni." But the band encountered inclement weather on the East Coast and had their flights cancelled, so while Cullen hugged another cup of coffee, the band found three different flights to get to the show on time. And they did?with moments to spare. Wearing Hartford Whalers' jerseys, The Zambonis rocked Playmakers and made certain everyone in attendance had a memorable evening. Among those in the crowd were ?Canes teammate Mike Commodore, Patrick Eaves of the Ottawa Senators, and the New York Islanders' Jason Blake.

At 2 a.m., Cullen and Bridget, who are expecting their first child any day now, took the Stanley Cup and about 50 friends over to a local hotel where they had reserved the boardroom for late night pizza and beer. At 2:45 a.m., a cup of coffee in hand to keep him alert, Cullen drove the Stanley Cup to Fargo International Airport, where it was destined for Detroit and a day with Ward.

"It was just unbelievable," beamed Cullen, whose Cullen's Children's Foundation garnered close to $240,000 over the course of the weekend's events. "It went way better than I expected. I never would have anticipated things turning out the way they did! Thank you for helping make a difference!"

* * *

The Stanley Cup arrived in Detroit in the morning on Saturday, July 22, met Ward. "Cullen had me going, I have to tell ya," he started. "We had all these plans made for the Cup, and all I could think about was that I had to get to my wife so we could change the arrangements." After a pregnant pause, Ward added, "He'll get his. Oh yeah, revenge is a bitch!"

Then, it was back to the family home for a backyard barbecue. Not a trick was missed -- hamburgers and hotdogs were grilled, macaroni and cheese was there for others and an ice cream truck sat in the driveway, ready to hand out freezing treats on a sizzling hot day. An inflatable castle designed for jumping kept the children occupied all afternoon (between bites of ice cream).

At 4:30, Ward visited the kids at C.S. Mott's Children's Hospital, located at his alma mater, the University of Michigan. Taking the Stanley Cup from room to room, Ward would greet each young patient with, "Hi there! How's it going? Do you think you have room for the Stanley Cup on your bed?" No one, as you might imagine, was unable to find room for Lord Stanley's Cup.

Each child got a pennant and an autographed team Stanley Cup poster. "There's my ugly mug, right there," Ward would say, pointing out his picture, complete with playoff beard. Each child would stare at the photo, then look up at Ward, quickly breaking into a monstrous grin. It was all most in the room could do to keep the tears from tumbling down their cheeks.

For two hours, Ward lugged the Stanley Cup into each room. Katelyn, Kyle and all the young patients waited their turn to meet the hockey hero. One little boy of 4, who had been flown in from Kansas, was especially shy when Ward visited his room. Ward spent a fair bit of time with the youngster, kibitzing and teasing. After Ward left to visit other children, he turned around at one point, only to discover the young lad tagging along behind him, pulling his IV pole as he went.

"I just find it so redeeming to bring the Stanley Cup here," Ward explained. "The kids are so appreciative of the visit." It comes as no surprise, therefore, that Ward was Carolina's nominee for the King Clancy Trophy, going to the player who best exemplifies leadership qualities on and off the ice, and who has made a noteworthy contribution to his community.

* * *

By the end of the summer, Aaron will be be sporting bling, bling, bling -- three Stanley Cup championship rings: 1997, 1998 and 2006.

After leaving the hospital, Ward took the Stanley Cup to nearby Novi for a visit to Tequila Rain. An area of the club had been closed off to the public, allowing Ward and 100 guests to enjoy a private party. Wearing wristbands to designate that they were to be recipients of an open bar, the guests enjoyed shishkebob, vegetable dumplings and jumbo shrimp (isn't that an oxymoron?!?) After 10 p.m., much of the area was opened so that the public could get a look at the Stanley Cup. Stanchions were erected so that Ward's guests could still enjoy a private area.

At 1 a.m., a limousine took Ward and the Cup back to his house. "I'm going to sleep with the Stanley Cup," he told his friends. "I slept with it in 1997 when we won it in Detroit and the next year, we won the Cup again. This time, if I sleep with the Cup, maybe the Rangers will win it next year!" Ward signed a two-year deal with the Rangers after becoming a free agent following the Stanley Cup championship. "Aaron is another proven winner joining our lineup, having won three Stanley Cup championships," stated his new GM, Glen Sather. "He brings leadership and experience to our team and adds a competitive edge to our defensive corps."

As the sun rose on a Sunday morning, Ward and Kelly gave baby Libby a bubble bath in the bowl of the Stanley Cup. Then, Ward, Kelly and the kids joined his mother and her parents at Gest Omelettes in the Newberry Square Shopping Plaza in Commerce Township. Back at the house, more photographs were taken, including Ward with the actual Stanley Cup as well as the miniature Cups won as a member of the Detroit Red Wings' championship squads of 1997 and 1998. Ward also wore his two Stanley Cup rings, and tried to figure out which finger should sport the latest, won as a member of the 2006 Carolina Hurricanes!

* * *

On Tuesday, the Stanley Cup Journal reveals how the rest of the time was spent in the Detroit area, including visits to the Karmanos family and to Chad LaRose. See ya!

* * *

Like Aaron Ward, Kevin Shea is a native of Windsor, Ontario. Unlike Ward, he has never slept with hockey's legendary Cup, although one night, he did sleep in his cup, but he'd rather not talk about it. He is the Editor of Publications and On-Line Services at the Hockey Hall of Fame. His fifth book, 'Lord Stanley -- The Man Behind the Cup,' co-authored with John Jason Wilson, will be published in October 2006.

For complete information visit: The Hockey Hall of Fame's official site