Authentic Stanley Cup Makes Appearance at Iconic Hudson Valley Landmark

It isn't every day that THE actual Stanley Cup travels through the Hudson Valley, never mind making a stop at one of the most iconic landmarks we are lucky to have here in the historic Hudson Valley.

No, we aren't talking those Stanley Cups that mobs of people have been going crazy for recently at Target stores, the actual NHL Stanley Cup, as in the championship trophy awarded to the NHL championship team each year. It was here in our Hudson Valley this week, any thoughts as to why?

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Why Was the NHL Stanley Cup in the Hudson Valley?

Let's try to make this easily digestible for those who don't follow sports, ready?

• The Stanley Cup is the trophy awarded to the team that wins the NHL Championship each year.
• Last year, 2023, the Vegas Golden Knights won their first ever championship, hoisting the Stanley Cup on June 13, 2023 on home ice.
• The owner of the Vegas Golden Knights hockey team, Bill Foley, is a 1967 graduate of the US Military Academy.
• Following their win against the Islanders on Tues, Jan 23, VGK then visited USMA on their day off. Foley brought his Championship team to West Point to visit his alma mater, along with the infamous Stanley Cup trophy.

Foley, the team, and the 'cup' made their way around the grounds at West Point, spending some time in the mess hall with the cadets for lunch, at center ice in Tate Rink where Army hockey plays, and even with the Commander-in-Chief's trophy, which Army won just last month. The Golden Knights players toured West Point where they received a history lesson, spent time with Army Hockey coach Brian Riley, and Foley himself was actually presented with a cadet saber as a gift from West Point (pictured below).

NHL Vegas Golden Knights Ties to West Point

You may notice some similarities between the athletic teams at West Point and the Vegas Golden Knights, as owner Bill Foley branded his Las Vegas hockey team with similar black and gold colors, logos, and even the team name. 'Knights' pays homage to the Army Black Knights, with 'Golden' preceding it as a reference to 'No. 1 precious metal,' as Nevada is the largest gold-producing state in the country.

Pictured below, the Vegas Golden Knights and the Army Black Knights hockey team posing with the Stanley Cup at West Point on Wednesday January 24th.

You can take a deep dive into the history of Lord Stanley's cup, learning about the rings and how long the etched names stay on the iconic trophy below: