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Stanley Cup surprises Acadia Atom AA hockey team

Stanley Cup surprises Acadia Atom AA hockey team

The Stanley Cup made a special appearance Wednesday evening at the Acadia Atom AA hockey team practice, surprising the group of 10- and 11-year-old players.

"They knew we were doing something special because we don't usually practice on Wednesdays," said Mark Richards, assistant coach of the Annapolis Valley team.

Richards said keeping the cup a secret from parents was more difficult than keeping it from players on the team.

"Everybody was in shock when they walked in the doors and saw the Stanley Cup there," said Richards.

The Stanley Cup was brought to Wolfville with the help of Scotiabank. The company has sponsored 5,000 local hockey teams across the country since 2007, according to Challon Dykens, manager of personal banking at the Scotiabank in New Minas.

"It was a huge undertaking and a big surprise for the team," she said.

And the players were definitely surprised. They were led down a hallway, opened the door and the cup — along with a room full of reporters and photographers — was there waiting.

Drew Hockley, a defenceman, didn't see it coming. It was his first time seeing the Stanley Cup in person.

"It was awesome," he said, "I was really shocked when I saw it."