​The engraving of names on the Stanley Cup is attracting extra attention this summer due to the inclusion of six Dundon family members. Carolina Hurricanes owner Tom Dundon and his wife Veruschka, along with their four children—Caden, Dax, Drew, Blake, and Tagan—are listed among the names following those of the team’s front office, coaches, and players. This marks another instance of a team owner featuring relatives on hockey’s most famous trophy, a practice that has sparked controversy at times but has grown increasingly common in recent years.
Previously, Penny Vinik, then-wife of Tampa Bay Lightning owner Jeffrey Vinik, appeared on the Cup in 2021. She did not make the cut in 2020 during their divorce proceedings, but the couple later reconciled and ultimately finalized their split years afterward. Teresa Viola, along with her husband Vincent Viola and their three children—John, Michael, and Travis—are listed on the Cup twice, thanks to the Florida Panthers’ back-to-back championships in 2024 and 2025.
In the Hurricanes’ case, Tom Dundon and his family occupy the first two lines. The list also includes team staff, such as Veruschka Dundon, Caden Dundon, Dax Dundon, Drew Dundon, Blake Dundon, and Tagan Dundon. Player Joel Nystrom, who appeared in 38 regular-season games for Carolina, did not have his name added, nor did other off-ice support staff, bringing the total to 53 names. An image circulating shows all the Hurricanes engravings on the Cup.
Inclusion on the Stanley Cup can be guaranteed by participation in 41 regular-season games, or 42 if the NHL extends to an 84-game schedule, or by dressing for a final game. This is why all three Hurricanes goaltenders—Brandon Bussi (note: he is actually a recent acquisition), Frederik Andersen, and Pyotr Kochetkov—are among the names. Teams can also petition for exemptions; for example, Nicolas Deslauriers, who played eight games after being acquired at the trade deadline and appeared in the playoffs, earned his name on the Cup through such an exemption this year.
The Hockey Hall of Fame says it is not directly involved in engraving the Cup, but it handles the Cup’s care. The Hurricanes declined to comment through a team spokesperson. The engraving history includes notable controversies: in 1984, when the Edmonton Oilers won their first of five titles in seven years, owner Peter Pocklington had his father Basil’s name added, only for it to be chiseled out later with X marks after Basil had no involvement in the championship. Peter described this as a clerical mix-up.
Basil Pocklington is not the only name to be removed from the Trophy. In 2021, Brad Aldrich—the Chicago Blackhawks’ video coach who was implicated in sexual assault allegations involving Kyle Beach—had his name covered, as part of the wider fallout from the incident and the ensuing independent investigation and resignations.
The Hurricanes’ Stanley Cup run has also generated significant local impact. The team’s success has brought substantial economic activity to Raleigh, with reports indicating about $13.4 million in new local spending linked to the Cup run, contributing to a surge of energy and enthusiasm around the city. The engagement around engraving and the broader discussion of who deserves to be immortalized on the Cup continues to echo in hockey circles, reflecting the evolving traditions and occasional controversies surrounding this legendary trophy.