"A coach in the NHL since 1995 when he took his first bench boss gig with the Hartford Whalers at the age of 28, Maurice finally captured Lord Stanley's Mug in 2024. The most beautiful trophy in sports was passed to him mid-interview; he paused what he was saying, grabbed the Cup and lifted it, delivering one of the longest and most satisfying exhales in sports history."
"Even if you weren't a Panthers fan, in that moment you were thrilled for Maurice -- a guy who devoted his life to hockey and finally achieved his dreams. There have been a few such iconic moments in NHL history. The most famous example is Ray Bourque winning the Cup with the Colorado Avalanche in 2001 as Joe Sakic made the most famous "pass" in hockey history."
"Every year, hockey fans love to identify a veteran who hasn't won the Cup yet to cheer for in the playoffs (particularly if their team doesn't make the postseason). Who has the feel-good story? Who has been in the league for so long that you believe they deserve one? Some label it the OGWAC, or "old guy without a Cup.""
Paul Maurice, who began his NHL coaching career in 1995 with the Hartford Whalers at age 28, finally won the Stanley Cup in 2024 with the Florida Panthers. His emotional moment lifting the Cup during an interview resonated with hockey fans everywhere. The NHL has a tradition of celebrating veteran players and coaches who achieve championship success after lengthy careers, exemplified by Ray Bourque's 2001 victory with Colorado and Lanny McDonald's 1989 win with Calgary. Kyle Okposo also won his first Cup with Florida in 2024 after an 18-year career. Hockey fans annually identify deserving veterans without championships to support during playoffs, a phenomenon known as the OGWAC (old guy without a Cup).
Read at ESPN.com
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