Carolina Hurricanes Owner’s Family Engraved on the Stanley Cup Sparks Outcry

The 2025-26 Carolina Hurricanes added 53 names to the Stanley Cup, including star captain Jordan Staal, defenseman Jaccob Slavin, coach Rod Brind’Amour, and, unusually, owner Tom Dundon’s wife and five children. None of the Dundon children hold any official role with the franchise, yet their names appear alongside players who earned the championship.

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Since the Cup’s inception in 1893, engraving has honored those directly involved in a title run. Prior exceptions exist: in 1945 Toronto listed a coach’s 11-year-old son as a mascot, and in 1984 Edmonton owner Peter Pocklington’s father was added, later crossed out by the NHL. Those incidents remained isolated, and the league has traditionally limited names to players, coaches, staff, and owners with formal titles.

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The inclusion of the Dundon children has provoked a “nuclear” response from hockey fans who view the Cup as sacred. Critics label the practice “ridiculous and arrogant,” arguing it dilutes the trophy’s historic significance. Social commentary suggests the move reflects a broader trend of “participation trophies” supplanting merit-based recognition.

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Both the Hurricanes organization and the NHL declined to comment when approached for clarification, refusing interviews and additional media inquiries after the engraving was made public.

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• “None of the Dundons, other than Tom, has any official role with the franchise.” — ESPN

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• “Courtesy @canes/Instagram You could call this the culture of participation trophies coming for one of the most famous trophies in all of sports, but this didn't even require any participation.” — ESPN

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• “Many have called the children's inclusion ridiculous and arrogant.” — ESPN

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• “Someone from the Hurricanes or the NHL should have saved him from himself.” — ESPN

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• “This is about the players, not the hedge fund manager.” — ESPN

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• “And that's what gets lost as a society when earning it is devalued because the biggest bank accounts can just purchase what was once considered priceless.” — ESPN

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