I Was There: The Night Joe Sakic Handed the Cup to Ray Bourque

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Two 2001 Stanley Cup Final tickets, Section 380, Row 9, Seats 5 and 6 — Our actual tickets: Section 380, Row 9, Seats 5 and 6, $78 each. "Game D" meant the fourth home game of the Final, which turned out to be Game 7.

Some nights you watch hockey history on TV. On June 9, 2001, I was sitting in it: Section 380, Row 9, Seats 5 and 6 at the Pepsi Center in Denver, for Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final between the Colorado Avalanche and the defending champion New Jersey Devils.

We weren't alone in those two seats. Our daughter Miranda was six months old, and we decided she was coming with us. We strapped her into a chest carrier, put cotton in her ears, and headed for the arena.

Louder Than Anything I'd Heard

I'd been a season ticket holder, so I thought I knew what that building sounded like. I didn't. That night, the noise was off the charts before the puck was even dropped. After a series that had gone back and forth for six games, the crowd poured everything it had into that building. It was incredibly loud, and it was crazy.

Scoreboard showing 13.5 seconds left with the Avalanche leading 3-1 — From our seats: 13.5 seconds left with a 3-1 lead, then 00.0 and a raised fist.

A raised fist in Section 380 as the clock hits zero — From our seats: 13.5 seconds left with a 3-1 lead, then 00.0 and a raised fist.

The Avalanche gave us plenty to yell about. Alex Tanguay scored twice, including what turned out to be the Cup-winning goal, and Joe Sakic added another. Colorado led 3-0 in the second period and held on to win 3-1. When the final horn sounded, the place came apart.

The Moment

To understand what happened next, you have to know about Ray Bourque. He had played 22 seasons in the NHL, 1,612 regular-season games and 214 more in the playoffs, most of them with the Boston Bruins, and had never won the Stanley Cup. Boston traded him to Colorado in 2000 so he could chase one, and this was his last shot. He had already done his part in the Final, scoring the go-ahead goal in the third period of Game 3.

Tradition says the commissioner hands the Cup to the winning captain, and the captain lifts it first. Gary Bettman handed it to Joe Sakic. Sakic didn't lift it at all. He turned and handed it straight to Ray Bourque.

Video screen showing captain Joe Sakic, No. 19, receiving the Stanley Cup — Zoomed in on the arena's video screen from our photos: captain Joe Sakic (No. 19) receives the Cup, the Cup changes hands, and the name on the jersey says it all.

Video screen showing the Stanley Cup being handed over — Zoomed in on the arena's video screen from our photos: captain Joe Sakic (No. 19) receives the Cup, the Cup changes hands, and the name on the jersey says it all.

Scoreboard reading Colorado Avalanche number 77 Ray Bourque, with the Stanley Cup raised on the video screen — Moments later, zoomed in from our photo: 00.0 on the clock, "#77 Ray Bourque" on the scoreboard, and the Cup raised high on the big screen.

Bourque raised the Cup over his head for the first time in his career, and everyone around us was in tears. It's still the greatest Stanley Cup presentation I've ever seen. It turned out to be the last game Bourque ever played. He retired a champion, and later that summer he brought the Cup home to Boston.

Standing there with our daughter in her chest carrier, we had one thought: will Miranda remember any of this?

Scoreboard naming Patrick Roy the 2001 Conn Smythe Trophy winner — More from Section 380: the scoreboard naming Patrick Roy the Conn Smythe Trophy winner, the handshake line with the Devils, the Cup waiting at center ice, the celebration that followed, and the ribbon boards saying it all: "Thank You Colorado Avalanche Fans!!"

The handshake line between the Avalanche and Devils — More from Section 380: the scoreboard naming Patrick Roy the Conn Smythe Trophy winner, the handshake line with the Devils, the Cup waiting at center ice, the celebration that followed, and the ribbon boards saying it all: "Thank You Colorado Avalanche Fans!!"

Four Months Later

Fast forward to October. We were in New Hampshire visiting the in-laws, and Miranda had just learned how to walk. It was the Avalanche's home opener, and the game was on TV. On October 9, 2001, the Avalanche raised their Stanley Cup banner before beating Vancouver 5-4, and of course, the Cup was there.

When the Stanley Cup came on the screen, Miranda noticed. She took off across the room on her brand-new legs, went straight to the TV, and started banging on the Stanley Cup.

So I guess she remembered it.

A Note for Parents

If you're thinking about bringing a baby to a game, do it. These are the memories that last. But skip the cotton we used back then: an arena that loud is too much for little ears, and infant earmuffs made for loud events do a much better job. Shop baby earmuffs for loud events →

Were you at Game 7 in 2001, or another game you'll never forget? Tell us about it on Facebook or Instagram. For more on hockey's greatest trophy, read our history of the Stanley Cup.