The Carolina Hurricanes‘ recent Stanley Cup victory has brought attention to the engraving of names on the trophy, particularly the inclusion of owner Tom Dundon‘s family members. Six names from Dundon’s family, including his wife and five children, appear on the Cup before those of the front office, coaches, and players. This practice, while sometimes a point of discussion, has become more common in recent years.
Dundon is not the first owner to include family members on the prestigious trophy. For instance, Penny Vinik, then-wife of Tampa Bay Lightning owner Jeffrey Vinik, was included in 2021. However, she was not listed in 2020 during the couple’s divorce proceedings, before they reconciled and later finalized their separation. Similarly, Vincent Viola‘s wife, Teresa, and their three children, John, Michael, and Travis, are all engraved twice on the Cup, following the Florida Panthers‘ back-to-back championships in 2024 and 2025.
Family Names and Player Inclusions
The names Tom Dundon, Veruschka Dundon, Caden Dundon, Dax Dundon, Drew Dundon, Blake Dundon, and Tagan Dundon occupy the first two lines of the engraving for the 2025-26 season. The Hurricanes’ social media shared a picture on Wednesday, July 7, showing the 53 names of players and staff, along with Dundon’s family members, commemorating the championship season.
The engraving process has specific criteria for player inclusion. Players who participate in 41 regular-season games, or dress in one game during the final, are guaranteed a spot. This explains why all three Hurricanes goaltenders, Brandon Bussi, Frederik Andersen, and Pyotr Kochetkov, made the list. The winning team can also submit petitions for exemptions. Nicolas Deslauriers, an enforcer who played in eight games after being acquired before the trade deadline, including the playoffs, had his name added through this process.
However, not all individuals associated with the team are included. Player Joel Nystrom, who played in 38 regular-season games for Carolina, was not among the 53 names added, nor were some other off-ice support staff members. The Hockey Hall of Fame has stated that it is not directly involved in the engraving process, focusing instead on the care of the Cup itself. The Hurricanes declined to comment on the matter through a team spokesperson.
Historical Engraving Controversies
The practice of engraving names on the Stanley Cup has seen controversies in the past. In 1984, during the Edmonton Oilers‘ first of five titles in seven years, owner Peter Pocklington had his father’s name, Basil Pocklington, engraved on the trophy. Basil Pocklington had no direct involvement with the championship, and his name was later chiseled over with X’s. Peter Pocklington attributed this incident to a clerical mix-up.
Another instance of a name being removed from the trophy involved Brad Aldrich, a video coach for the Chicago Blackhawks in 2010. Aldrich’s name was covered in 2021 after allegations of sexual assault against player Kyle Beach came to light. The subsequent cover-up led to an independent investigation and several resignations within the organization.
The Carolina Hurricanes‘ 2025-26 victory marks the second time the franchise has been etched into NHL history. The names of the champions were engraved on the trophy this week. Owner Tom Dundon led the list of names, followed by CEO Brian Fork, general manager Eric Tulsky, and head coach Rod Brind’Amour. Brind’Amour’s name appears on the trophy for the second time, having captained the franchise to their first Stanley Cup championship in 2006. Hurricanes captain Jordan Staal also made his second appearance on Lord Stanley, having previously won the trophy with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2009.
The Hurricanes secured their second Stanley Cup in franchise history by defeating the Vegas Golden Knights 3-0 last month.
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Source: sportsnet.ca
Ethan Brule is a Senior Hockey Writer at CasinoNews. He covered the NHL for a national Canadian outlet. He focuses on the NHL, the Maple Leafs and Team Canada and is known for clear, deadline-driven reporting. He holds a degree in Sports Media from Toronto Metropolitan University. Now based in Toronto, he plays beer-league hockey and follows the junior ranks. “Hockey in Canada is never only about the score.”
