Phil Pritchard, the Hockey Hall of Fame vice president and curator, is the man entrusted with transporting the Stanley Cup to the arena on a night when it could be claimed by a champion. But he is respectful of traditions and superstitions, never bringing the cherished trophy into the building prematurely.
He has traveled to cities for Game 4 with one team up, 3-0, and quickly backed up the car and reversed out of the parking lot when the other team wins. He has gone to the next arena and the next and the next.
But Pritchard knows that, sooner or later, he’ll be hauling the Stanley Cup, polished and gleaming, onto the ice. Full story for BostonGlobe.com subscribers.
Amalie Benjamin can be reached at abenjamin@globe.com. Follow her on Twitter @amaliebenjamin.
