Zdeno Chara, Marian Gaborik and Marian Hossa are all famously neighbors in their home country of Slovakia, so it’s no surprise to see all three at the other’s respective Stanley Cup parties. It’s been that way in the recent past as all three have captured Cups in the past five years, and then brought Lord Stanley’s chalice back to their home country in the summer.
Chara brought the Cup to a nearby castle during his time with Lord Stanley’s prize, and the Cup in Slovakia tradition continued again last weekend with Hossa bringing it back home for a second time in three years. The Bruins captain was present in a Black and Gold sweater for Hossa’s second time with the Cup after winning again with the Blackhawks in June, and even managed a smile during the proceedings. Keeper of the Cup Phil Pritchard snapped a picture of Chara in a B’s sweater, Gaborik in an LA Kings sweater and Hossa in a Blackhawks sweater, and then tweeted it out to the general hockey public.
Both Gaborik and Chara wisely stayed far away from touching distance of the Cup after each of their teams missed the playoff cut last spring.