Lord Stanley's Cup Bar Hops in Mendota, Lilydale

The Stanley Cup visited a few local hotspots Saturday night, due to a Mendota Heights man's affiliation with the Chicago Blackhawks NHL organization.

Kevin Ryan is senior VP of Wirtz Beverage Minnesota, a beverage distribution company in Minnesota and Iowa. The Wirtz family also happens to own the 2010 Stanley Cup-winning Chicago Blackhawks.

Ryan said he found out ten days ago when his day with the hallowed trophy would be.

The company organized an employee function for Saturday afternoon to celebrate the arrival of the Cup. Former Blackhawks goalie and Hockey Hall of Famer Tony Esposito was onhand at the event to sign autographs. Money raised from employee picture and poster sales with the cup will be donated to Minnesota Special Hockey, an organization that supports hockey programs for people with disabilities.

After the company fun, it was time to take the trophy to visit with some area clients, said Ryan, which include in Mendota, and in Lilydale. According to the Hockey Hall of Fame, a "Keeper of the Cup" is in attendence at all times to ensure its safety.

Surprised guests at the locales got to snap photos and pose with the Cup in all its glory.

Julie Flores and her friends from Woodbury were at the neighboring Joke Joint when someone told them to check out what was happening at Moose Country. The ladies lined up with others for cell phone and camera shots, and a story about the Saturday night when they met Lord Stanley's Cup.