Carolina Hurricanes captain and Thunder Bay native Jordan Staal brought the Stanley Cup to the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre pediatric unit and POGO satellite clinic on August 8, 2026, giving young patients a day to remember.
Staal, who won his second Stanley Cup with the Hurricanes on June 14, 2026, and earned the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP at age 37, spent part of his official day with the trophy visiting children receiving care. The visit was part of a hometown celebration that included stops at a local Mr. Sub restaurant and a school.
The POGO satellite clinic opened at the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre in June 2025, bringing childhood cancer care closer to home for Northwestern Ontario families who previously had to travel to London for treatment. Staal’s visit offered a welcome break for patients and families at the facility.
Staal grew up playing minor hockey for the Thunder Bay Kings AAA organization and was drafted second overall by the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2006, winning his first Stanley Cup with that team in 2009. He joined the Hurricanes in 2012 and has served as captain since 2019.
The official Keeper of the Cup, Philip Pritchard, shared photos of Staal presenting the trophy to children at the unit, writing, “@Canes captain Jordan Staal presents the Stanley Cup to the children at the Thunder Bay Pediatric Unit and POGO Clinic (Thunder Bay, ON).”
Staal’s visit highlighted the importance of community supports for families facing serious illness, while celebrating a championship win that ended the Hurricanes’ 20-year title drought.
