Stanley Cup makes sweet stop at iconic Connecticut donut shop in Wallingford
Wallingford's Patrick Budds serves as an assistant equipment manager for the Carolina Hurricanes.
On Tuesday morning, the Stanley Cup made its way back to Connecticut, stopping at a beloved donut shop in Wallingford. Wallingford native Patrick Budds, who worked as an assistant equipment manager for the Carolina Hurricanes during their 2026 Stanley Cup Final victory, brought the oldest trophy in North American professional sports to his hometown.
The business owner, Neil Bukowski, welcomed the cup by filling its top bowl with several of the store's famous doughnuts. The Carolina Hurricanes' last NHL title was won in 2006, just a decade after the team controversially relocated from Hartford. Since then, the Stanley Cup has had several notable appearances in Connecticut, including public displays at Dunkin Park and private celebrations at a brewery in Milford.
Other Connecticut natives, like Newtown's Mackie Samoskevich and Middletown's Jason Kelce, have also hosted memorable outings with the cup. Neil's Donuts, founded in 2001, has become a Connecticut staple and was once praised by former NFL star Jason Kelce as "great." The shop has since expanded to include a second location in Middletown and has plans for a third in Wethersfield.
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