Guppies Captain Brian Kelly poses with the Stanley Cup	Brian Kelly with Carolina Hurricanes Head Coach Peter Laviolette.	Peter Laviolette Sr. and Guppies Captain Brian Kelly share a laugh

Kelly Hangs out with the Cup!!

Special to Killingworth-guppies.com

7/4/06 - Only a few days after the Carolina Hurricanes/Hartford Whalers won their first Stanley Cup, The Guppies Captain received a personal invite from Canes head coach Peter Laviolette to help celebrate. "I was really shocked and honored when I got the call from Pete" stated Brian Kelly. The event took place at the Norton Country Club in Norton, MA. There were about 150 friends and family that helped celebrate the 2006 Stanley Cup Championship with Coach Laviolette. Also, in attendance? Michael Peca, of the Edmonton Oilers. "I was really surprised to see Mike here" stated Kelly." It's not often you celebrate a championship with the guy that just beat you". Either way, it's always a better Fourth of July party when the Stanley Cup can attend.

The Cup arrived at Norton County Club at about 5:15pm and was quickly unpacked by Cup handler Michael Bolt. Mr Bolt, seemed to a bit tired Tuesday afternoon, which he attributed to a late night he had down in Carolina the night before. However, he quickly pulled himself together and instructed the crowd on the "rules" about handling the silver hardware. This guy travels with the Cup for about 300 hundred days out of the year, has been all over the world, and has witnessed some great Cup history. Nice Gig if you can get it! 

Standing next to the Cup from the time it arrived till the time this reporter left Norton was Peter Laviolette Sr., father of Coach Laviolette. Pete Sr. admitted to the fact that he had no real hockey experience "I never held a hockey stick in my life". However, as a hockey fan and father of a Stanley Cup winning coach, he was very excited to have a chance to see the Stanley Cup up close. "It's just a great site!" When asked if he gave Pete Jr. any advice during the Canes Cup run, he answered "I did, but thank god he didn't take it!"

People were quick to circle the Cup which left Kelly on the outside looking in. Thinking fast he spread a rumor that Marc Crayton was in the bar signing autographs. When no one went to the bar, he quickly changed his story and spread a rumor that Keith Millen was in the bar. "It was a cheap trick" admitted Kelly "but I needed my quality time with the Cup".

About 15 minutes after the Cup, Coach Laviolette arrived to join the celebration. Meeting with friends and family, The Coach was quick to come over and shake hands with Kelly. The two talked for a bit and shared a laugh. It's no secret that Pete is a big Guppies fan "The Guppies are what hockey is all about. stated Laviolette "Just look at all the Championships they have won, they have been an inspiration for me over the past few years". Kelly, joked with the coach, that he'd be looking for his name on the Cup and also waiting for his Stanley Cup ring to arrive in the mail. Laviolette was quick to respond "I think you'll be waiting awhile for that, but keep looking!".

The evening wrapped up with a formal dinner at the Norton CC Ball Room. Meanwhile, fans asked Peca, Kelly, and Laviolette to pose for photos. However make no mistake about it, The Stanley Cup was the real hockey star on this night.

-Jim Carr