​The engraving of names on the Stanley Cup is drawing heightened attention this summer due to the inclusion of six Dundon family members. The list begins with Carolina Hurricanes owner Tom Dundon and his wife Veruschka, followed by their children: Caden, Dax, Drew, Blake, and Tagan. After the Dundons’ entries, the names of members of the Hurricanes’ front office, coaches, and players appear. This pattern of including family members on the Cup is not new for any NHL club, though it has sometimes sparked controversy. In recent years, however, it has become more commonplace as teams acknowledge the people who support the organization beyond the ice.
Previously, Penny Vinik, the then-wife of Tampa Bay Lightning owner Jeffrey Vinik, had her name engraved on the Cup in 2021. She did not appear on the 2020 engraving when the couple was navigating a divorce, a process that was later reconciled before a final split occurred years afterward. Likewise, Teresa Viola, wife of Florida Panthers owner Vincent Viola, and the couple’s three children—John, Michael, and Travis—appear on the Cup twice, corresponding to the Panthers’ back-to-back championships in 2024 and 2025.
The current Hurricanes lineup places the Dundon family in the first two lines of the engraved list. In addition, player Joel Nystrom—who appeared in 38 regular-season games for Carolina—was not among the 53 names added this time, nor were other off-ice support staff. The NHL stricter criteria has a practical effect: participation in 41 regular-season games (or a potential rise to 42 with the league expanding to an 84-game schedule) or appearing in at least one game during the finals helps ensure inclusion. That policy explains why all three Hurricanes goaltenders—Brandon Bussi, Frederik Andersen, and Pyotr Kochetkov—made the cut.
Meanwhile, teams can seek exemptions on occasion. Nicolas Deslauriers, an enforcer who played in eight regular-season games after being acquired near the trade deadline and who also appeared in the playoffs, secured a spot on the Cup via this route. The Hockey Hall of Fame has clarified that its role is limited to the care and preservation of the Cup itself, not to the engraving decisions.
The Hurricanes, for their part, did not offer comment through a team spokesperson. The history of Cup engraving includes notable controversies. In 1984, during Edmonton Oilers’ first of five titles in seven years, owner Peter Pocklington had his father’s name added. It later had to be chiseled out and replaced with Xs because Basil Pocklington had no direct role in the championship. Peter Pocklington attributed the altercation to a clerical mix-up. Bazil Pocklington is among the names who have been scratched from the Cup, underscoring that the engraving process, while ceremonial, can be legally and emotionally complex.
Another infamous case occurred in 2021, when Brad Aldrich—then a Chicago Blackhawks video coach involved in a sexual assault scandal—had his name removed from the Cup’s engraving following an independent investigation and a cascade of resignations tied to the cover-up of Kyle Beach’s allegations. The ongoing discussions around which individuals are included, and under what circumstances, reflect the broader questions about accountability, recognition, and the evolving standards of sports organizations.
As the summer unfolds, fans and analysts will scrutinize not only the names themselves but the stories they tell about team ownership, family involvement, and the broader culture surrounding the sport. The Canadian Press contributed to this narrative, and the AP News NHL coverage remains a primary source for those seeking more information.