Stanley Cup to appear in Chicago Pride Parade
The Stanley Cup will appear in the 2015 Chicago Pride Parade, the second time the NHL champion Blackhawks have let the trophy ride in the festivities.
The Windy City Timesreported Friday that the Chicago Gay Hockey Association would again host the cup, during Sunday's 46th annual parade in wake of the Blackhawks' title win earlier in June.
In 2010, the Stanley Cup became the first major professional sports trophy ever to ride in a pride parade. Then-Blackhawks defenseman Brent Sopel brought the cup onto the CGHA's float not only to celebrate the championship with the people of Chicago, but to honorBrendan Burke, the late son of Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Brian Burke, who died in a car accident earlier that year two months after coming out.
No players are currently scheduled to appear.
"Having the cup at the parade is important because it shows the Blackhawks' continued support of the LGBT community," CGHA president Andrew Sobotka told ChicagoPride.com. "It's also important to have the cup there because it's an exciting time for the city, and it should be celebrated by everyone."
The CGHA will also be playing host to the Chicago Pride Classic tournament this week, a 10-team, three-day gay hockey tournament.
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