http://www.hhof.com/html/exSCJ_2010.shtml

Here is the latest entry into the 2010 Stanley Cup journal with Jordan Hendry, and Kris Versteeg:

http://www.hhof.com/html/exSCJ10_09.shtml

Jordan Hendry:
The Blackhawks picked up Jordan Hendry as a free agent during the summer of '06, and he turned into quite a find. The Nokomis, Saskatchewan native moved to Alaska in 2002 to play hockey for the University of Alaska-Fairbanks of the Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA). The strong skater went undrafted but established himself as a strong defensive defenceman, and Jordan turned pro with the Norfolk Admirals, the American Hockey League affiliate of the Chicago Blackhawks, in 2005-06.


Hendry impressed the big club, and he joined Chicago for half of the 2007-08 season, part of 2008-09 and much of this past Stanley Cup season. In fact, he played in 15 playoff games, including three in the final. Although he wasn't dressed for the clinching contest, he was on the ice in full uniform when the Cup was presented by NHL commissioner Gary Bettman to captain Jonathan Toews. "It was kind of a unique situation," Jordan told The Regina Leader-Post. "Me and Colin Fraser and Bryan Bickell were all on the roster throughout the playoffs. We all got dressed (in our gear) in the third period. (When Patrick Kane scored the Cup-winning goal in overtime), we just ran from the locker room right onto the ice and threw our gloves off. It was definitely the best feeling of my life so far."

The 26-year-old Hendry had dreamed of the scenario through his entire life. "As kids, you play street hockey with your buddies and you always play for the Stanley Cup. It feels very surreal to bring the actual Stanley Cup back and share it with everyone. It's one of those things that I always dreamed of doing!"

Ironically, for a town of just 436 residents, Jordan is not the first Stanley Cup winner to come from Nokomis. Elmer Lach, an Honoured Member of the Hockey Hall of Fame, was a three-time Stanley Cup champion with the Montreal Canadiens, and is their oldest alumnus.
The Stanley Cup had left Coach Quenneville and the Canada Day parade in Windsor and was flown across Canada, arriving at its destination in Nokomis in the early evening of July 1. Jordan was there to greet his prize, joined by his mother, Lois, and his father, Ron. There was a party planned over at the Nokomis Recreation Centre, and more than a thousand people greeted Hendry and the Cup (astonishing given that the town's population is less than half of that number!). Fans stood in line to meet Jordan, get autographs and a picture with the Stanley Cup, with donations accepted for the arena fund and the minor hockey program. The Stanley Cup left at midnight, but the party carried on until 6:00AM Friday morning!

Kris Versteeg:
There were moments during the days leading up to his time with the Stanley Cup that were melancholy for Kris Versteeg. Here he was, having earned a day with the Stanley Cup for his role with the Chicago Blackhawks. Yet, three weeks after the on-ice celebration, Kris was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs along with Bill Sweatt for Chris DiDomenico, Philippe Paradis and Viktor Stalberg. Excited about the trade, nonetheless, Versteeg had to realize that he would forever be bonded with the 2009-10 Hawks, but when he skates out to start a new season, he will not be part of the defending Stanley Cup champs.
Kris Versteeg was originally drafted by the Boston Bruins, going 134th overall in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft, but before he played a game with the Bruins, he was traded with a draft pick for Brandon Bochenski in February 2007. Versteeg made his NHL debut with the Hawks on November 22, 2007, but joined Chicago full-time in 2008-09 and went on to be a finalist for the Calder Trophy as the NHL's rookie of the year. A reliable winger, the Lethbridge, Alberta native scored back-to-back 20-goal seasons before the trade to Toronto.
A friend with a Cessna was hired to fly the Stanley Cup into Lethbridge, Alberta on Saturday, July 3. The plane landed at 12 noon, and there to greet the Cup was Kris Versteeg. He took the beautiful trophy home, where family photos were taken with his mother (Marilyn), Dad (Roy) and brothers Bryce and Mitch (a member of the ECHL's Kalamazoo Wings).

The Cup was taken to Murray Chevrolet Cadillac, and Kris signed autographs and posed for pictures, with donations targeted to the Lethbridge Minor Hockey Association and KidSport, which provides support to children in order to remove financial barriers that prevent them from playing organized sports. So many fans showed up that in spite of the fact Kris stayed for three hours, there were still more waiting to see him and the Stanley Cup, so Kris carried the Cup through the crowd so that pictures could be taken and some fortunate enough to be standing close to Kris could reach out and touch Lord Stanley's legacy. One of those Kris was thrilled to encounter was his Grade 3 teacher, who dutifully waited in line to congratulate Kris.