​The engraving of names on the Stanley Cup is drawing heightened attention this summer due to six family names appearing among those honored. The sequence begins with the names of Carolina Hurricanes owner Tom Dundon and his wife, Veruschka, followed by his five children: Caden, Dax, Drew, Blake, and Tagan. Their names precede the familiar rosters of front-office figures, coaching staff, and players. This pattern of including family members on hockey’s silver chalice is not entirely new, though it has sparked discussion over the years. It has become more commonplace in recent times, even though it has at times sparked controversy.
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 divorce proceedings, but after reconciliation and eventually finalizing a split years later, her name was revisited in the engraving cycle. Teresa Viola, wife of Vincent Viola of the Florida Panthers, along with the couple’s three children—John, Michael, and Travis—were included on the Cup twice, reflecting the Panthers’ back-to-back championships in 2024 and 2025.
For the Hurricanes, the Dundon family occupies prominent space on the engraving, with Tom Dundon, Veruschka Dundon, and their children listed across the first two lines. Among those not included this year were player Joel Nystrom, who appeared in 38 regular-season games for Carolina, and other off-ice support staff, signaling that not every member of the broader organization will necessarily be named.
Eligibility rules help explain who makes the cut. Participation in 41 regular-season games—the figure could rise to 42 if the NHL moves to an 84-game schedule—or appearing in a single game during the final can guarantee inclusion. This mechanism clarifies why all three Hurricanes goaltenders—Brandon Bussi, Frederik Andersen, and Pyotr Kochetkov—made the cut, even if some other players did not meet the threshold. Teams also possess the option to petition for exemptions or special considerations, which can expand who is memorialized on the Cup.
Other routes to engraved inclusion include post-season assignments. Nicolas Deslauriers, who joined the team at the trade deadline and played eight games in the playoffs after the trade, earned his Cup engraving through such an exception flow. The Hockey Hall of Fame emphasizes that its role is limited to the care and engraving process rather than involvement in determining which names appear.
History shows that engraving controversies are not unprecedented. In 1984, the Edmonton Oilers faced a notable dispute when owner Peter Pocklington had his father’s name inscribed on the Cup for the team’s first of five titles within seven years. Basil Pocklington’s name was later chiseled out with X’s due to his lack of involvement in the championship, a move Peter Pocklington attributed to a clerical mix-up at the time.
The Cup’s engraving has also carried political and ethical weight. Basil Pocklington is not the only name to be erased in Cup history: Brad Aldrich, the Chicago Blackhawks’ video coach in 2010 when the team captured its first of three championships in six years, had his name covered in 2021 following revelations that he sexually assaulted player Kyle Beach and the subsequent independent investigation that led to resignations across the organization. The ongoing discussion around these engravings reflects broader questions about accountability, memory, and the meanings attached to the Cup’s venerable tradition.
As the current engraving season unfolds, fans will watch not only for the usual roster and coaching credits but also for the stories behind family inclusion, the exceptions granted by teams, and the broader implications tied to past controversies. The Cup remains a cherished symbol of achievement in hockey, even as the engravings continue to spark debate about who deserves a place on its gleaming surface.