Bruins Stanley Cup will visit Martha’s Vineyard Sunday

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Boston Bruins President Cam Neely (left) with Jerry Jacobs Jr and Jeremy Jacobs and General Manager Peter Chiarelli celebrating the Stanley Cup victory in Vancouver. — Photo courtesy of Boston Bruins

There is no historical evidence that Lord Stanley ever visited Martha’s Vineyard, but his Cup is coming to the Island this Sunday, and Bruins fans are reveling at the prospect of seeing, and maybe even touching, hockey’s Holy Grail.

The Boston Bruins captured the Stanley Cup, symbolic of the National Hockey League championship, after a grueling and exciting seven-game final series against the Vancouver Canucks that concluded last Thursday night.

Jerry M. Jacobs Jr., Katama seasonal resident and son of Jeremy M. Jacobs, Bruins owner, will be at the Edgartown School from 9 am to 11 am with the coveted trophy.

Tony Chianese, co-owner of Edgartown Marine and a friend of Mr. Jacobs, helped arrange the visit. Mr. Chianese said Mr. Jacobs loves the Vineyard and wanted to do something very special for Island residents.

Mr. Jacobs is the Chairman and CEO of Delaware North Companies, one of the world’s leading hospitality and food service companies. His son is a principal in the company.

Edgartown police chief Tony Bettencourt said organizers of the event asked if his department could help with security.

“I told them we’d be happy to do that,” Chief Bettencourt said. “The town is looking forward to it, everyone is looking forward. I expect it’s going to be busy. There’s going to be a lot of people there.”

Chief Bettencourt said he had no trouble finding extra officers among the many Bruins fans on his staff, to help with traffic and security Sunday morning.

“The volunteers are flying in,” he said.

The Stanley Cup is inscribed with the names of all of the players, coaches, management, and club staff who have won it since the National Hockey League began using the silver chalice as its championship trophy. Each player and member of team management gets to take the famous trophy for a day, and many traditionally share the Stanley Cup with fans from their home town, their schools, and their family.

The Bruins are well-known throughout Massachusetts for their accessibility to fans, and their charity work. Martha’s Vineyard is no exception.

Hockey Hall of Famer Cam Neely, currently president of the team and an Aquinnah property owner, is a frequent summer visitor. The Bruins legend barely causes a stir during daily visits to fish markets in Menemsha.

The Island has a strong youth hockey program, and Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School hockey teams have enjoyed considerable success in interscholastic play. The team won state championships in 1999, 2000 and 2002.