Hartigan's Day With Stanley

The following is an excerpt taken from nhl.com describing former Red Wing Mark Hartigan's day with the Stanley Cup.

" As if there isn’t enough pressure on a young player to be participating in his first-ever Stanley Cup Playoffs, Mark Hartigan had the further burden of knowing his mother had suffered a relapse in her battle with cancer. His nom, Debbie, died during the Ducks’ successful path to the Stanley Cup, and Hartigan flew home to be with his family during the first round of the playoffs. Although he spent only six games with Anaheim during the regular season, and added one more in the playoffs, Hartigan was next to celebrate with the Stanley Cup, taking it to Fort McMurray, Alberta on Saturday, August 25.



His brother Colin hosted the Hartigan celebration at his home. After food and drinks, accompanied by many emotional toasts, the gang boarded a bus that embarked on a tour of some of the area’s businesses that had meaning to Hartigan.



First stop was the firehall, followed by a visit to Robert Vargo at Alberta Motors, the area’s largest General Motors dealership. Hartigan visited patients at the hospital, then stopped at the Dugout Coffee House and Youth Centre. Finally, Hartigan carried the Stanley Cup into the Thickwood Arena to show those on hand. A ball hockey tournament was in full swing, so he offered a photo of the winning team with the Stanley Cup, which promptly turned up the tempo several additional notches.



To wind down a busy but wonderful day, the bus took the Hartigan party back to Colin’s home to settle into an all-night party for family and friends. Although the celebrating was special, the most extraordinary moments may have been a reflective time when Hartigan and his family took time to study the engraved names on the Stanley Cup – Taylor, Morenz, Broda, Howe, Richard, Mahovlich, Orr, Clarke, Dryden – knowing full well that within weeks, the name ‘Hartigan’ was going to be added to the Stanley Cup’s legacy.
"

Congratulations again to Mark. You made all Red Wing fans proud as you hoisted the cup above your head this past June.

- Brad M.