Carolina Hurricanes owner Tom Dundon has drawn criticism after having the names of six members of his family engraved on the Stanley Cup following the franchise’s first championship in 20 years. Alongside his own name, Dundon included his wife, Veruschka Dundon, and their five children, with the family occupying the opening two lines of the trophy.
The decision has sparked debate because the Stanley Cup has limited engraving space, meaning several individuals who contributed to the Hurricanes’ championship-winning season were left off the trophy. Critics have questioned the move, arguing that front-office personnel, coaches, players and other staff members who played a role in the title run should have been prioritised.
Why Carolina Hurricanes Owner Tom Dundon Is Facing Backlash Over Stanley Cup Engravings
Carolina Hurricanes owner Tom Dundon has come under fire after having the names of his wife and five children engraved on the Stanley Cup alongside his own, a decision that has divided hockey fans. Under the “Carolina Hurricanes 2025-2026” inscription, the first two lines of the trophy feature Tom Dundon, Verushka Dundon, Caden Dundon, Dax Dundon, Drew Dundon, Blake Dundon and Tagan Dundon. The franchise celebrated the milestone on social media, posting a photo of the Stanley Cup with the caption, “Forever etched in history.”
Each Stanley Cup-winning team is permitted to engrave a maximum of 55 names, and the Dundon family occupied the first seven spots before CEO Brian Fork, General Manager Eric Tulsky, head coach Rod Brind’Amour, his coaching staff and the players were listed. Team captain Jordan Staal, Conn Smythe Trophy winner and the rest of the championship-winning roster completed the final 24 player entries. The limited space meant several contributors missed out, including Joel Nystrom, who appeared in 38 regular-season games, as well as longtime equipment manager Bobby Gorman, who had previously been honoured on the Stanley Cup in 2006 during the franchise’s earlier championship.
Although many celebrated the Hurricanes’ historic title-winning season, Dundon’s decision sparked criticism online, with some arguing that players and staff who contributed to the championship should have been given priority. One post on X read, “Tom Dundon putting his whole family on the Cup instead of players & staff who actually did things to win the Stanley Cup is one the most selfish & gross things I’ve ever seen. It’s so disrespectful and shameful,” reflecting the backlash that followed the unveiling of the latest Stanley Cup engravings.
How the Carolina Hurricanes Won the 2026 Stanley Cup
The Carolina Hurricanes captured the 2026 Stanley Cup after defeating the Vegas Golden Knights 3-0 in Game 6 of the Final, securing the championship series 4-2 and lifting hockey’s biggest prize for just the second time in franchise history. Carolina completed a dominant postseason with a 16-3 record, while captain Jordan Staal was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy as the most valuable player of the playoffs. The celebrations continued in Raleigh, where nearly 200,000 fans gathered to celebrate the historic triumph with the team and the Stanley Cup.
Carolina’s title run was built on consistency throughout the playoffs. The Hurricanes swept both the Ottawa Senators and Philadelphia Flyers in the opening two rounds before defeating the Montreal Canadiens 4-1 in the Eastern Conference Final after dropping the opening game. In the Stanley Cup Final, they overcame the Vegas Golden Knights in six games, responding to every setback before sealing the championship with a commanding Game 6 performance, powered by three goals and a 22-save shutout from Brandon Bussi.
