The Montreal Victoire’s Walter Cup championship trophy, which went missing during shipment, has been located and returned to the team, the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) announced on Monday. The league expressed gratitude to all involved in the search and to fans for their support.
The mishap occurred last week when the trophy failed to reach Lethbridge, Alta., where it was scheduled to be with Victoire forward Dara Greig. Although a container arrived, it did not contain the trophy as intended by the PWHL.
The PWHL humorously commented on the situation, mentioning that even the Walter Cup can have off-season adventures. They eagerly anticipate the Victoire’s upcoming celebrations with their cup.
Details about where the trophy was discovered or how it went missing remain unclear, with the PWHL simply stating that it was “lost in shipment.” The league had been collaborating with its shipping partner to locate the missing trophy.
It is important to note that the missing trophy was not the one awarded to teams on the ice when they win the championship. The original trophy is permanently displayed at the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto.
The trophy in question is known as the team’s “keeper” cup, which is a replica of the original sterling silver Tiffany & Co.-designed Walter Cup. Weighing approximately 16 kilograms and standing at 61 centimeters tall, this trophy symbolizes Montreal’s victory over Ottawa in Game 4 of the best-of-five series held in May, making them the first Canadian champions in the PWHL. The cup is named after PWHL founder and major supporter Mark Walter and his spouse, Kimbra. Walter, who owns the Los Angeles Dodgers, recently reached an agreement to sell his controlling interest in the Los Angeles Lakers.
