Yellowknife (Dec 17/03) - Hockey's holy grail will grace Yellowknife this week. The capital is the first stop for Lord Stanley's Cup on a Northern tour that begins Thursday.

The Stanley Cup is one of the oldest sporting trophies in the world. Over the years it has had some pretty wacky adventures. The Cup was first awarded by Gov. Gen. Lord Stanley of Preston in the 1893-1894 hockey season. It was purchased by Lord Stanley for about $50 and a presented as a challenge cup for the best amateur hockey team in Canada. During the past century or so the cup has evolved from seven inch high, 11.5 inch in diameter bowl to its present 35.25 inch and 54 circumference base, 32 pound cup. The cup became a national trophy in 1910 when the National Hockey Association was formed. It became the NHL in 1917. Over time, it has seen some abuse. 1903. Tossed into a cemetery following a scuffle when the cup was taken home by the Ottawa Senators. 1905. The Senators leave the cup on the Rideau Canal over night when it was forgotten following the championship game. 1906 or 1907. Was used as a vase for red geraniums in a studio window after it was forgotten there for many months when the Montreal Wanderers had their photo taken with it. 1960 and 1970. Stolen from the Hockey Hall of Fame, recovered by police. 1980. Clark Gillies of the New York Islanders allowed his dog to eat out of it. Islander Bryan Trottier took it to bed with him. 1987. Mark Messier took the Cup clubbing and let fans drink from it. 1991. Found at the bottom of Mario Lemieux's pool Stefan Lefebrve had his son baptized in the cup.

The Cup will be available for viewing from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Yellowknife Community Arena.

It will also make its way through a number of city schools during the day.

The Yellowknife Arena was chosen because most of minor hockey is at the Yellowknife Arena and each of the minor teams will have a chance to get their picture taken with hockey's most coveted trophy.

As always, the Stanley Cup will be accompanied by white-gloved guardian Phil Pritchard.

Gary Vivian, who helped to organize the Cup's Arctic tour, said there are some strict protocols that people have to follow.

It is OK to touch the Stanley Cup and have photos taken with it, but under no circumstances is the Cup to be lifted.

"It's one of the hardest trophies to win and the only way to lift it is by winning it," said Vivian.

So unless you are a current member of the New Jersey Devils, don't try running off with the NHL trophy.

"Phil will be there to make sure no one does anything stupid with the it," said Vivian.

Other than Pritchard, the Stanley Cup will be relatively unprotected.

Yellowknife RCMP have had no requests to provide extra security.

"Stanley is on his own," said Sgt. Steve McVarnock.

Vivian said TSN Cool Shots wanted to make the trip North with hockey's greatest icon but wasn't able to travel with the trophy.

After reaching Cambridge Bay, the Cup will be transferred to an RCMP aircraft.

"There's not a lot of extra room," said Vivian.

Instead, Hockey Canada representatives who accompany the Cup will be armed with video cameras to take as much footage as possible.

Vivian said that footage will likely then be forwarded to TSN.

This is a unique journey for Lord Stanley's Cup.

"The only place it has been North of 60 is Rankin Inlet," said Vivian.

"It's definitely unique."

Northern hockey legend Shorty Brown said he is glad to see the cup coming North.

"For many of these kids they'll never get to see it otherwise. It's a dream," he said.

He said he is not sure if he will get the chance to see the Cup, which he has never had the opportunity to see up close.

Everyone should see it

"I think anyone and everyone should go and see it," he added.

After the stop in Yellowknife, the Cup will be in Norman Wells, Inuvik and Hay River on Friday. It's off to Cambridge Bay, Taloyoak and Iqaluit Dec. 20. On Dec. 21, Stanley will be in Panniqtuuq for a couple of hours before returning to Iqaluit as guest of honour for a three-on-three hockey tournament. The trophy will travel to Cape Dorset Dec. 22 before heading south.