What better way to celebrate a Stanley Cup championship than by eating some of Ontario’s most beloved ice cream right from the trophy. It’s part of an annual tradition for the winning NHL team to have each of its players and members spend a day with the trophy. And Carolina Hurricanes’ Sean Walker chose to celebrate his time with the Cup à la mode, courtesy of Kawartha Dairy ice cream. The defenceman originally hails from Keswick, Ont., a town that borders Cook’s Bay near Lake Simcoe. The Stanley Cup winner dropped by the ice cream parlour on Wednesday afternoon, and packed the Stanley Cup with four different flavours: Moose Tracks, Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough, Pralines & Cream and Coconut. The Ontario-based dairy said they were excited, grateful, and humbled that Walker wanted to include them in his celebrations. “A few of our customers were treated to a jaw-dropping surprise when Sean strolled in carrying the Cup and after enjoying a champion-sized bowl of ice cream, he was incredibly generous with his time, making himself available to anyone who wanted a moment with this hallowed trophy,” Rani Chatoorgoon, marketing director of Kawartha Dairy, said in a statement. The ice cream retailer posted a video of Walker’s visit to Instagram with Queen’s “We Are the Champions” playing in the back. The Instagram reel, which has been viewed more than 900,000 times at the time of publication, showed Walker entering Kawartha Dairy with the trophy before heaping scoops were ladled into the bowl of the Stanley Cup. “I’m sure the memories created yesterday for everyday Canadians, thanks to Sean, will inspire us for a long time,” Chatoorgoon said. Visiting pediatric patients at Southlake The Hurricanes player also spent his day with the Stanley Cup by visiting pediatric patients at Southlake Health on Wednesday. “It’s an incredible honour to bring the Stanley Cup home to Georgina, but what makes it even more meaningful is the opportunity to spend time with patients and families at Southlake,” Walker said in a news release. “Hospital visits and stays can be challenging, especially for kids, and if this visit can bring a few smiles, create some special memories and brighten someone’s day, then it’s time well spent.” Kade Richardson, a patient at Southlake Health’s Paediatric Oncology Clinic said it was “special” to see the Stanley Cup in person because of what it represents: the accomplishment of a goal. “It’s a special thing for me because it helps me look forward and inspires me to get to the end of my treatment,” Richardson said in a statement. CTV News Toronto contacted the Carolina Hurricanes for comment.
