Confirmed! Stanley Cup will be in Chicago Pride Parade, Sunday
Fri. June 26, 2015 12:28 PM by GoPride.com News Staff
brent sopel with the stanley cup, pride 2010
photo credit // jay shaff/chicagopride.com
Chicago Gay Hockey Association to host Stanley Cup in 2015 Chicago Pride Parade
Chicago, IL -
It's confirmed! The Stanley Cup will be making a second appearance in Chicago's annual Pride Parade on Sunday, June 28.
The offseason exploits of the Stanley Cup are legendary, as each member of the championship team gets a day to spend with the trophy and more or less do what he wants with it.
In 2010, the Stanley Cup was featured in the Chicago Pride Parade because the Chicago Blackhawks won it that season. Defenseman Brent Sopel also believed it would be a way to honor Brendan Burke, the son of Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Brian Burke, who was killed in a car accident two months after coming out earlier that year.
The Blackhawks and Sopel, who has since retired from from hockey, accepted an invitation from the Chicago Gay Hockey Association (CGHA) and rode aboard their float in 2010. It was the first and last time a major professional sports trophy has appeared in a pride parade -- but that will change this Sunday.
Windy City Times reports the CGHA will again play host to the Stanley Cup in the parade, aboard the float of WGN Radio/Jewel Foods.
"Having The Cup at the parade is important because it shows the Blackhawks continued support of the LGBT community," CGHA president Andrew Sobotka told ChicagoPride.com. "It's also important to have The Cup there because it's an exciting time for the city, and it should be celebrated by everyone."
The Blackhawks won the Stanley Cup title on Monday, June 15 after beating the Tampa Lightening 2-0 in Game 6 at the United Center.
The 46th annual Chicago Pride Parade steps off at noon on Sunday, June 28 and is expected to draw over 1 million people to the Uptown and Lakeview neighborhoods.
Related: Over 200 entries for 2015 Chicago Pride Parade (line of march)
The offseason exploits of the Stanley Cup are legendary, as each member of the championship team gets a day to spend with the trophy and more or less do what he wants with it.
In 2010, the Stanley Cup was featured in the Chicago Pride Parade because the Chicago Blackhawks won it that season. Defenseman Brent Sopel also believed it would be a way to honor Brendan Burke, the son of Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Brian Burke, who was killed in a car accident two months after coming out earlier that year.
The Blackhawks and Sopel, who has since retired from from hockey, accepted an invitation from the Chicago Gay Hockey Association (CGHA) and rode aboard their float in 2010. It was the first and last time a major professional sports trophy has appeared in a pride parade -- but that will change this Sunday.
Windy City Times reports the CGHA will again play host to the Stanley Cup in the parade, aboard the float of WGN Radio/Jewel Foods.
"Having The Cup at the parade is important because it shows the Blackhawks continued support of the LGBT community," CGHA president Andrew Sobotka told ChicagoPride.com. "It's also important to have The Cup there because it's an exciting time for the city, and it should be celebrated by everyone."
The Blackhawks won the Stanley Cup title on Monday, June 15 after beating the Tampa Lightening 2-0 in Game 6 at the United Center.
The 46th annual Chicago Pride Parade steps off at noon on Sunday, June 28 and is expected to draw over 1 million people to the Uptown and Lakeview neighborhoods.
Related: Over 200 entries for 2015 Chicago Pride Parade (line of march)