Photo: Bjoern Esperling
After spending Thursday with Andre Burakovsky in Malmo, Saturday with Cristian Djoos in Gavle, and Sunday with Nicklas Backstrom, in Valbo, Sweden, the Stanley Cup traveled to Germany on Monday for a day with Philipp Grubauer in Rosenheim, Germany. (Reminder, you can find the latest schedule of dates for Capitals players “day with the Stanley Cup” right here.)
For the first time this summer, the Stanley Cup spent a day with (now) a former Washington Capitals player, Philipp Grubauer. Grubauer was traded with Brooks Orpik on June 22 to the Colorado Avalanche for a second round draft pick. Although he now resides in Denver, Grubi will always be a member of “the team”.
Munich Airport Pickup, Munich, Germany
Grubauer met the Stanley Cup at the Munich airport early Monday afternoon. Grubi greeted the coveted chalice, decked out in traditional German/Bavarian lederhosen.
It was reported that the Cup’s arrival from Sweden was delayed for more than an hour, but Grubi didn’t seem to mind once he finally got the Cup in his hands.
Video: @Sbanderm
Public Event, Rosenheim, Germany
It’s estimated that approximately 2,500 fans came out to celebrate with Philipp and the Stanley Cup. The stage, which is also being used for musical performances this week and this summer, was donned with Grubauer jerseys from all walks of life, including a half-dozen versions of his Capitals jersey. The stage was about 200 ft from the ice rink where Grubauer started his hockey career.
Grubi took to the stage like a rock star, through the haze of manufactured smoke, as chants of “Grubi” and “Grubauer” wrang out from the crowd. NoVa Caps Bjoern Esperling was on hand to capture the moment he took to the stage.
Video: Bjorn Esperling
Bjorn writes, “’It was amazing to see that many Caps fans from Germany and Austria. I drove about 500 miles to attend and to give Grubi the respect he deserved. Some more people had like seven or eight hours drives or some flights to be there. I guess it was a special moment for him to present that Cup in the backyard of his childhood’s ice rink (Star Bulls Rosenheim, 3rd German division). Thank you for the opportunity to take photos with the Cup! Good luck to Gru in Denver – I’ll miss you wearing the red Caps sweater.’
Well said, Bjorn. Here, Bjoern finally gets to meet the Stanley Cup!
Everybody tried to get a photo with the Cup or Grubi, but a strong rain and some lightning stopped the party after around 1.5 hours. Grubi was signed into the “Golden Book” of the city of Rosenheim.
Private Party, Crystal Club
Philipp, and his father:
Return to Russia
The Stanley Cup now returns to Russia for its second and final visit of the summer, with stops in Chelyabinsk, for Evgeny Kuznetsov on Wednesday the 15th and Novokuznetsk for Dmitry Orlov on Friday the 17th. More on the entire summer schedule for the Stanley Cup can be found here.
PREVIOUS DAYS WITH THE CUP
John Carlson
Alex Ovechkin
Michal Kempny
Jakub Vrana
Steve Bowman
Mark Nemish
Chris Patrick
Rob Tillotson
Brian MacLellan
Matt Niskanen
Jason Serbus
T.J. Oshie
Todd Reirden
Michael Booi
Madison Bowey
Ross Mahoney
Braden Holtby
Brett Leonhardt
Brock Myles
Scott Murray
Tom Wilson
Devante Smith-Pelly
Lars Eller
Andre Burakovsky
Christian Djoos
Nicklas Backstrom
By Jon Sorensen