- Jaccob Slavin hung his Olympic gold medal around the Stanley Cup during his day with it in Raleigh
- He is the second American to win gold and the Cup in the same year, joining Ken Morrow from 1980
- Read below for the donuts, the ribs and the walk down his own street
Jaccob Slavin did not make anybody choose.
The Carolina Hurricanes defenseman brought his Olympic gold medal along for his day with the Stanley Cup in Raleigh, then draped it around the neck of the trophy. The photoshoot went up on Instagram:
Almost no American has ever been in position to stage that picture. Slavin is only the second one to win Olympic gold and the Stanley Cup in the same calendar year, after Ken Morrow went from the 1980 Miracle on Ice roster to the New York Islanders and lifted the Cup that May.
Everything else about the day ran looser. Slavin started it with donuts stacked in the bowl:
Lunch was barbecue ribs at a Raleigh spot he picked himself, with the Cup parked on the table:
Then he walked it down his own street. Neighbors lined both curbs, kids rolled out on bikes and scooters, and Slavin carried the Cup over his head past his front door.
Philip Pritchard, the Hockey Hall of Fame keeper of the Cup, was along for the walk and asked Slavin what he wanted out of the day.
“All I want to do is share the Cup with everybody,” Slavin said.
He meant it well beyond the block. Slavin also took the Cup to The King’s Chapel and shared it with administrators and volunteers from more than 20 Christian charities around Raleigh, per NHL.com. His invitation-only event earlier in the weekend was built around two charity auctions, one run by the foundation named for his late friend Grayson Murray.
Morrow had the American double to himself for 46 years. Slavin spent his weekend hauling both halves of it around Raleigh.
