GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- Die hard hockey fans checked an item off their bucket lists Sunday as the iconic Stanley Cup made its way across West Michigan.
Mike Bolt, Hockey Hall of Fame's keeper of the cup, showcased the 'holy grail' at local breweries: giving fans a chance hug, kiss, take pictures, even drink from hockey's most prized treasure.
"This is not just the Hawk's Stanley Cup, it's everyone's Stanley Cup," said Bolt. "The red wings have had it just as many times, 11 to be exact, and it might be the coolest traditions in all of sports."
Families and super fans waited in a line stretching out the door at The Mitten Brewery Co. where some waited for their chance just to touch it.
"My heart it still pounding from it, it was a crazy experience," said Blackhawks fan, John Olson.
Bolt has been traveled with the cup for 16 years. His job is to make sure the entire world gets a chance to see the priceless piece of sports history.
"There's a lot of tradition here with hockey and Detroit," said Bolt. You've got the American Hockey League in Grand Rapids, everywhere you go in the state there's hockey fan close by."
The Stanley Cup is 123 years old and weighs 35 pounds. It's made of 97 percent silver and three percent nickel with more than 2,700 names on it. The cup is making it's way back to Chicago where the 2015 Blackhawks will be etched on one of the trophy's five silver rings.
"We'll have two spaces left at the bottom and when it fills up, we'll take the top ring off and put it in the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto," said Bolt. "All the rings will move up and a new ring goes on. The Blackhawks will be on there for 54 years before their names are retired into the Hall of Fame."
Bolt said the original silver bowl donated in 1893 by Morgan Stanley actually came off in the mid-60's and currently resides in the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto.
"The original bowl actually came off in the mid-60's and the resides in the hockey hall of fame," said Bolt. "But this is the original Stanley Cup, Jonathan Kane and Wayne Gretzky have hoisted it with all their teammates.
