Port Hawkesbury and "PECULATOR CUP"

"PERCULATOR CUP"
Various teams across the province had shared their stories relating to their team's history of playing the N.S.Teachers' Hockey Tournament. I felt it was important to reveal those stories to you. One of the most interesting accounts is the Port Hawkesbury's "PERCULATOR CUP".

It was originally an antique coffee perculator that my wife purchased at an auction in 1990. I saw it and figured that it's "coffee days" were over and it was time to give it a new life. We have had some alternative beverages out of it since, but there has always been a general reluctance to drink out of something you can't see the bottom of, and it has not always been washed by the last winner, but we get over it!

This cup has been awarded to our MVP at your tournament since 1991. David Carruthers was the first winner. As you know, he has been the motivating factor behind our team since you guys started and he has always organized everything since the beginning. This included running the team all year- that was our extended tryouts for the tournament at the end of the year! The team picked the first winners, but after a while the former winners made up the committee that makes the selection. The one rule about winning the cup is: if it is not on prominent display at the last winners house when a teammate visits, it's free drinks all around! On the front, it is inscribed with the letters T.A.T.A.T.H.L. (Tuesday And Thursday Afternoon Teachers Hockey League).

We decided to award it to the mvp at the last game of the year. During the year at our regular games, we always just threw the sticks into the center ice area and randomly picked teams. There were some blowouts, but nobody was ever assured of winning the cup. We quickly realized that the last game of the year was always your tournament in Halifax, so it became incumbent on someone making some kind of spectacular play at the tournament. It didn't always rely on scoring prowess. I think I won as a result of a spectacular tumble over the high boards at Cole Harbour Place that stopped the game. Others have gotten game killing penalties, that made us laugh out a**es off.

When we look back at the winner, and sometimes his nickname, we remember the event that won it for him. There are 17 names (and nicknames) inscribed around the trophy. Nobody has ever won it twice! In 2006 we added a new base, al la Stanley Cup, to include players on the "Next Level". We look forward to awarding it again as the rookies are always in the hunt. Come to our dressing room for our last game an witness for yourself, the PERCULATOR winner for 2008!