Photos: Washington Capitals

July 11, 2018 was the designated day for Capitals’ winger, Jakub Vrana, to have the Stanley Cup.  It was a historic day in that it was the first time the Stanley Cup had ever been in Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic, for the entire day. (You can find an updated schedule for Caps players day with the Cup right here).

The two previous players who had won the Cup that brought it to Prague were Josef Vasicek and Dominick Hasek, but neither had brought it for the whole day, and nobody had ever brought it to the streets of Prague’s Old Town.

The Cup was delivered to the restaurant owned by his parents, Karel and Jana.  His day started around noon with a small family gathering.  He was able to spend time with beloved family members, including his father, his mother, and his grandfather.

He then took the Cup to the gravesite of his grandmother, who had died shortly before the playoffs.  He was able to squeeze-in a trip to the hockey shooting range, where he would refine his shot when living in his childhood apartment.

Vrana then proceeded to the Letnany Shopping Mall for a small fanfest that took place from 3:00-6:00 p.m.  This shopping mall is the same one that contained the ice rink where he learned how to play the game. The fanfest was moderated by Czech actor Martin Dejdar, the voice of Bart Simpson in the Czech edition of “The Simpsons”, and also included a rock band.  Vrana signed autographs and posed for pictures with fans for approximately two hours.

🍾🍾🍾 @JVranaa #ALLCAPS #StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/hTwD5seEA7

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) July 11, 2018

The Vrana party had dinner downtown at Katr following the fan fest.  Afterwards, Vrana walked the half-mile walk through Old Town to bring the Cup to the One Club Prague disco in Melantrich for the party that was scheduled to begin at 9:00 p.m and to conclude at 12:00 p.m.  His teammates from the Capitals, Michal Kempny, Jakub Jerabek and Andre Burakovsky came to join him.

Andre Burakovsky has made his way to Prague to celebrate with Jakub vrana! (@Capitals) pic.twitter.com/oHbErf7Yjh

— NoVa Caps (@NoVa_Caps) July 11, 2018

Vrana’s plan was to fill the Cup with champagne at the party.  He said that his mother had cooked beef goulash earlier that day, but she didn’t think it would be a good idea to put it into the Cup.

Further Reading
Preview of Jakub Vrana’s Day With the Cup
NHL Report on Vrana’s Day With Cup
Washington Post Story on Vrana’s Day With Cup

By Diane Doyle

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