Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images
Carolina Hurricanes left wing Jordan Martinook (48) hands the Stanley Cup to defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere (4) after defeating the Vegas Golden Knights in game six of the 2026 Stanley Cup Final at T-Mobile Arena
Having your name engraved on the Stanley Cup is one of hockey’s biggest honors, and it’s supposed to be a testament to the fact that you help your team win it. However, Hurricanes owner Tom Dundon has managed to ruffle some feathers after devoting six spaces to family members who did not do much to contribute to their recent championship.
The Stanley Cup has a history stretching back to 1892, which is when Lord Stanley of Preston commissioned what was initially known as the “Dominion Hockey Challenge Cup” to be presented to the best amateur hockey team in Canada. However, it has been presented to the top team in the NHL every single year since 1926 (although the league didn’t make it its official championship trophy until 1947).
The Stanley Cup is considered one of the most iconic pieces of hardware in all of sports, which certainly has something to do with the fact that players, coaches, and other personnel who were responsible for a championship run are immortalized by having their names engraved on the side of it.
That tradition started when the Montreal Wanderers put 20 names inside the bowl after winning it in 1907, and as things currently stand, more than 3,500 people have been honored on the removable bands that are occasionally rotated out to make room for more recent winners.
This year, the Carolina Hurricanes earned the honor, but their owner has rubbed plenty of people the wrong way with the approach he opted to take.
Hurricanes owner Tom Dundon devoted six spots on the Stanley Cup to his wife and kids
The NHL limits teams to a maximum of 55 names on the Stanley Cup, but most of them opt for 52. Players need to have appeared in a minimum of 41 games in the regular season (or at least one in the Final) in order to be eligible, although winning clubs can petition for guys they feel are worthy who failed to meet the criteria.
The list isn’t limited to skaters, as they’re usually joined by owners, coaches, key members of the front office, and supporting staff (e.g. trainers and equipment managers). Management has the final say when it comes to who gets the nod, but the list is subject to approval from the NHL.
That rule can be traced back to former Oilers owner Peter Pocklington, who tried to honor his dad, Basil, after Edmonton’s win in 1984 before it was covered it in 16 Xs after the league learned he didn’t play a role in the run (he was the only person to get that treatment before disgraced Blackhawks video coach Brad Aldrich was removed at the franchise’s request over the Kyle Beach scandal).
Tom Dundon has served as the majority owner of the Hurricanes since 2018, and tradition dictates his name would be the first one engraved on the Stanley Cup after they dispatched the Golden Knights in the Final this year.
On Wednesday, we learned that was indeed the case when we got our first look at the list, but we were also treated to some controversy after fans discovered he was joined by his wife, Veruschka, and their five kids: Caden, Dax, Drew, Blake, and Tagan.
Forever etched in history pic.twitter.com/KpJaNsb5Fz
— Carolina Hurricanes (@Canes) July 9, 2026
The age of their children ranges from their early 20s to elementary school, and there is no evidence to suggest Dundon’s wife or their offspring were heavily involved in day-to-day operations or personnel decisions. As a result, plenty of fans voiced their displeasure with their inclusion while noting those spots could have gone to more deserving members of the staff.
It is worth noting that Panthers owner Vincent Viola set some precedent by veering from tradition following Florida’s back-to-back wins in 2024 and 2025, as he was joined by his wife Teresa and their three (adult) sons: John, Michael, and Travis. However, it is also worth noting that he pledged to adopt the “mold of the old-style, family-run teams” when he took over in 2013, and his sons have defined roles with the franchise.
It seems safe to assume the NHL didn’t have a problem with Dundon’s decision when you consider it theoretically would have stepped in before the engraving was finalized, but it’s still a questionable look.