The Hockey Day in Canada celebrations were all the rage in Yellowknife earlier this month but Deline and Norman Wells werenSA国际影视传媒檛 left out of the fun.

The two Sahtu communities received a visit from the most famous trophy in Canada as the Stanley Cup landed on Feb. 4, much to the delight of almost everyone who got the chance to see it or touch it. Ron MacLean of Hockey Night in Canada and Hockey Hall of Fame member Bryan Trottier accompanied hockeySA国际影视传媒檚 holy grail on its voyage.

Doug Cooper, a teacher at Ehtseo Ayha School in Deline, was on hand to see it and said seeing everyoneSA国际影视传媒檚 reaction was amazing.

SA国际影视传媒淭he parking lot by the lake was jammed with people,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淚t wasnSA国际影视传媒檛 too hard to get the kids and the community excited about seeing it because itSA国际影视传媒檚 emblematic of excellence in hockey and having it in the birthplace of hockey made it that much more special.SA国际影视传媒�

Deline claims to be the birthplace of hockey and there is some evidence to back up that claim thanks to the journals of Sir John Franklin. Legend has it that FranklinSA国际影视传媒檚 men would strap on skates and play field hockey on the ice during the years 1825 and 1826.

Morris Neyelle, an elder from Deline, confirmed in a Toronto Star story that elders back then saw men SA国际影视传媒渇lying across the ice like they were floating SA国际影视传媒� thatSA国际影视传媒檚 how they would express it.SA国际影视传媒�

Cooper, who also serves as a minor hockey coach in the community, knows about the story and said he talked to his players about it.

SA国际影视传媒淚 asked them to hold up their skates and I told them the blades were nothing like that,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淚 told them to imagine skating on a thick butcher knife or something similar to that.SA国际影视传媒�
Leading up to the Cup's appearance, Cooper had his young players down on the lake ice for a scrimmage to get ready.

SA国际影视传媒淲e got on the ice at around 12 or so and played until it was time,SA国际影视传媒� he said.
Lucas Tutcho, 11, said he never thought he would ever see the trophy up close.
SA国际影视传媒淚 looked at it and said SA国际影视传媒極h, my God SA国际影视传媒� itSA国际影视传媒檚 the Stanley CupSA国际影视传媒�,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 bigger than I thought.SA国际影视传媒�

Clay Highfield, 9, said he loved getting to touch the Cup.

SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 a once-in-a-lifetime experience,SA国际影视传媒� he said.

MacLean and Trottier took the time to speak to everyone in the schoolSA国际影视传媒檚 gymnasium and also signed whatever anyone wanted.

Highfield had his hat signed by both of them.

SA国际影视传媒淩onSA国际影视传媒檚 really cool to talk to."

Tutcho got his Great Bear Lakers hockey jersey signed and planned to show it off.
SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檓 going to a tournament in Norman Wells so everyone will see it,SA国际影视传媒� he said.
Mountain School in Norman Wells did not reply to a request for comment before press time.