HERSHEY, Pa. — Just like navigating an entire AHL season to finish as Calder Cup champs, the path to get everyone a day with the Cup during the offseason requires a solid game plan and proper execution.
"It's a process. It's not easy," said Hershey defenseman Aaron Ness. "There are a lot of people behind the scenes that make it happen. It's shipping it around, trying to get it on time and there has been some trouble in the past."
"Last year I didn't get it," said Hershey Head Coach Todd Nelson with a laugh. "It didn't come at the right time. This year it did. Last year I had 70 people coming, but we had no Cup and then I invited the same people and only a few people showed up, but we had the Cup."
If you think the celebrations involving the Cup end a few days after the game, guess again. Champagne, beer, and even Russian dishes found their way into and out of the Calder Cup this offseason.
"I was getting heat for drinking Bud Light," laughed Hershey forward Mike Vecchione. "There's no Trogues back in Boston. But yeah, everyone's just bringing over some beers, re-filling it up, drinking out of the cup, and having a good time. It's fun to get one day with the Cup."
Much like some of the Bears' games last season, there can be some adversity when plans don't always work out, but it's all about how you adapt.
"My oldest brother was having a baby in California," recalled Hershey's Calder Cup overtime hero Matt Strome. "So, my mom wasn't there, but my dad and I decorated the house together. We've never really done that, so it was a little bit of chaos, but it all turned out great."
Everyone's celebration might look different or the Cup may play a different role in the festivities, but the common theme is spending it with people as a way to say 'thank you,' for a lifetime of supporting their passion for the game of hockey and cheering them on along the way.
"It just really means a lot to see how many people have been able to contribute to some of my success and see a lot of different faces," added Vecchione.
"I got to share it with my family and my son and my daughter were there with their families," said Nelson. "My two grandchildren were in the Cup, so it was a lot of fun."
"I brought it back to my hometown and a lot of buddies up there were actually playing a golf tournament, so the whole town of Roseau, Minnesota got to hang out and see it. It's pretty special and a lot of fun, especially being able to bring it back to a hockey community like that," Ness said.
While the Bears are in the middle of training camp, they hope to keep the tradition going of hosting the Calder Cup next summer.
