Elliot Lake gets up close with Lord Stanley’s Cup

Thankfully, there were no fire calls Friday morning in Elliot Lake when the Stanley Cup arrived at the fire hall.

The coveted NHL trophy was in the community as part of Kraft Hockeyville, which the community won in a national contest earlier this year.

"We’ve watched hockey for ever and ever and just we’d love to see the real thing. You don’t get to see the real thing every day," said couple Shelley and Wayne Willson, who were first in line to see the iconic trophy.

Part of the prize was $250,000 for upgrades to the Centennial Arena and hosting an NHL game. Given that the arena isn’t ready just yet, the game will be played at Sudbury Arena on Sunday.

Also part of the Hockeyville win the Stanley Cup was taken around to local schools on Thursday.

“Seeing it in Elliot Lake and seeing the kids see it for the first time and we’ve had an alumni player come with us ... He’s been really great with the kids, taking it down to them so they can touch it, have that one-on-one time with it," said local Hockeyville organizer Amanda McKay.

"It’s been really awesome to watch."

Friday morning, emergency services personnel and their families had a chance to get up close with one of the most revered trophy in professional sports.

“This town, like through my job, I’ve always seen this town come together and when it came time for Hockeyville ... I voted as many times as I possibly could," said Elliot Lake Fire Captain Darren Connors.

"It’s amazing.”

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A community-wide celebration event was held Friday from 3-6 p.m. at Collins Hall, where NHL alumni Andrew Ference and Bryan Trotter signed autographs and the Stanley Cup was on display.

The NHL pre-season game is set for 7 p.m. Sunday between the Ottawa Senators and the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Most of the tickets have already been distributed to Elliot Lake residents with priority given to local school students.

A local bus line has donated a shuttle service to and from Greater Sudbury on Sunday to help transport they many of the Elliot Lake residents who will be attending the NHL game.

"This is an opportunity some of these kids would never have – to see the cup and even to attend an NHL game,” said McKay.