Yes, the Stanley Cup will be in the Chicago Pride Parade, Windy City Times has confirmed through multiple sources, all knowledgeable of the extensive, detailed, somewhat secretive planning over the past two weeks.
The Chicago Blackhawks captured the team's third Stanley Cup over the past six years on Monday night, June 15and even before the game ended that night, text messages were being sent to and from representatives of the National Hockey League ( NHL ) who were instrumental in securing the Stanley Cup is present Sunday, June 28, at the 46th annual Chicago Pride Parade, as it was in 2010.
The Chicago Gay Hockey Association ( CGHA )founded by Chuck Jacobson in 2003 and now run by team president Andrew Sobotkawill again play host to The Cup in the Pride Parade, aboard the float of WGN Radio and Jewel Foods, in the No. 17 spot, just after the Baton Show Lounge float and before the entry for Balloons By Tommy.
No players on the 2015 Stanley Cup champion Blackhawks are scheduled to appear. In 2010, former Hawks player Brent Sopel rode on the CGHA float along with The Cup.
The CGHA contingent at the parade will be extra large and international, close to 200 people, as the CGHA is playing host to the Chicago Pride Classica 10-team, three-day gay hockey tournament played locally.
The CGHA was one of many parade entries vying for The Cup. Sidetrack also made a strong push to host The Cup on its parade float, particularly because the popular, long-standing Lake View bar is rolling with a sports theme this year, and its slogan is, Team Sidetrack.
Other parade entrants also expressed interest in hosting The Cup in the parade, Windy City Times has confirmed.
Tommy Hawk, the Hawks' mascot, also will be part of the CGHA's 2015 parade participation, though he certainly will take a back seat to the 35-pound silver trophy.
"We're very happy with our extended relationship with the Blackhawks," Sobotka said. "The Hawks continue to show dedication to LGBT causes."
Sobotka said securing The Cup was significantly different this time from 2010. In fact, "people at the Blackhawks and the NHL thought about it [this year] before we even said anything."
Sobotka said he has been in contact with at least five members of the Hawks' front-office staff, "and all have been real great to work with."
Sobotka also praised Crew Bar & Grill for its long-standing support of the CGHA.