In 1892 the Stanley Cup was crafted in England and purchased by Lord Stanley of Preston to be given as the prize for the hockey championship of Canada, then an English dominion. In the 110-years since the trophy's birth, the Cup has taken on almost life-like qualities as an ambassador and agent of goodwill. The Cup not only brings joy to the faces of the players and fans who win it, but also those who are in need.
As we look back on the events of September 11, 2001, the images that flow through our minds are of tragedy, destruction, sadness and loss. In the days following the terrorist attacks, the burden of rescue and recovery fell on the backs of countless firemen, police officers, emergency medical technicians, construction workers and volunteers. As the rest of the nation slowly got back into normal daily routines, these men and women continued to stare that pain and anguish in the face, day in and day out, with heavy hearts and tired bodies.
The courageous souls at Ground Zero hailed from all over North America and worked countless hours at the site of the worst terrorist attack in United States history. It was fitting that the Stanley Cup would eventually arrive on the scene to help turn the grim work of recovery into a brief moment of reflection that said there's still something to smile about in the world.
NHL.com remembers Sept. 11
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Professional athletes from New York City, led by New York Rangers captain Mark Messier, rolled up their sleeves to lend a hand in order to bolster the morale of the heroes in Lower Manhattan. Of course, the Stanley Cup was there with its handler and constant travel companion Mike Bolt.
On Oct. 20, 2001 the NHL and the New York Police Department arranged a meeting between the Stanley Cup and NYPD's Emergency Service Division (ESD) workers who were hard at work at Ground Zero.
Bolt and the Stanley Cup set up shop at the NYPD's temporary headquarters with the ESD. As workers came in and out of shifts, they got to spend time with the Stanley Cup, taking pictures, reading all the information the Cup has to offer and talking hockey. It was a much needed distraction for many of them.
"These men were putting in 12-hour shifts, showering, going to funerals, grabbing just a few hours of sleep and then doing it all again." Bolt said. "All we were hoping for was to give these guys just a few minutes of happiness. We wanted to cheer them all up and let them forget things for just a moment. It seemed to have really worked."
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Many workers got to spend time with the Stanley Cup while it made a goodwill stop in lower Manhattan.
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Bolt was humbled to be thanked time and again by the rescue workers. As he pointed out, the roles should have been reversed.
For some of these workers, the opportunity to touch the Stanley Cup was the first time they were able to smile in over a month. What was a small endeavor for Bolt, turned out to be an invaluable couple of hours to those on the job.
Following the visit, a police officer took Bolt on a quick ride around the site, giving the man who spends so much of his time at joyous celebrations with the Cup, a first hand look at the damage that was done.
"It was something that I will never ever forget," he said.
"I was so happy to be able to brighten up the lives of these great people, even if only for a short while," Bolt said. "It's hard for most to get a true understanding of the work that was and still is put in down at Ground Zero. These individuals are true heroes as far as I'm concerned. I just hope that what they've done will never be forgotten."
