As All-Star Weekend kicked off, the Hockey Hall of Fame exhibit entered Enmarket Arena with exclusive memorabilia and the league’s most prestigious trophies, including the Con Smyth trophy and the beloved Stanley Cup. While many associate the Keeper of the Cup with Phill Pritchard, the cup has a few keepers. Mario Della-Savia watched over hockeys most treasured trophies in Savannah over the weekend. The Ghost Pirates are the ECHL affiliate of the reigning champs, the Vegas Golden Knights, making this trip a little extra special for fans.
Mario Deal-Savia started out as a volunteer and continues to attend All-Star Weekends and ECHL events. He travels the globe with the Cup in the summertime with the winning team and his colleagues. “We are all historians of the game, and you have to love hockey to have this job.”
Unbeknownst to some, The captain of the winning team gets two days with the cup, but the rest of the team must adhere to the one-day rule. “We have such a tight schedule to keep.” When asked where his favorite place he has traveled with the cup was, with no hesitation, he said Prague. “The game is so global now. I’ve been to Russia, Siberia, Moscow, Sweden… over 32 countries”
Della-Savia gave some insight into what it’s like to be with the team during the summer. “It’s being with the families, going to grandma’s house, cemeteries, your hometown welcome sign.” While the cup can usually be seen at a family get-together or just with the player, a lot goes into it. “A lot of them need some guidance on what to do with their day, said Della Savia, as he explained his role in helping get those perfect moments on their day with the cup and making suggestions.
The Vegas Golden Knights had possession all summer, with the help of Della-Savia, and now it has come full circle to their affiliate at the All-Star Game.
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