takes the heat off bruton........

by cranky

SHAWINIGAN, Que. -- A summer of celebrations by the Shawinigan Cataractes has left the Memorial Cup looking like a train wreck.

Pictures published Monday by l'Echo de Shawinigan show the top of the 93-year-old Cup bashed in and the two hockey player figurines on either side of the bowl missing. The newspaper said the wooden base was also cracked.

How the damage occurred was unclear. Each player on the championship team was allowed to have the Cup for 24 hours to celebrate in his home town.

The Cataractes won the Cup on home ice by defeating the London Knights in the junior hockey final in May.

The League commissioner Gilles Courteau issued a statement on Monday, condemning the Cup's apparent condition.

"The Memorial Cup was donated in 1919 to honour Canada's war fallen," said Courteau. "It is unfortunate and deplorable to see it in such a state. The damages that were caused will be billed to the team."

League spokesman Photi Sotiropoulos said the Cup will be returned to the Canadian Hockey League, which will have it repaired.

There was no estimate on the cost of repairs. Winning teams that want to have the trophy over the off-season must take out $50,000 in insurance against damages.

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Posted on Jul 25, 2012, 7:55 AM

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