ERIE, Pa. – If you haven't had the opportunity to see hockey's Holy Grail – The Stanley Cup – in person, your chance is coming on Saturday, February 1.

Mercyhurst University will be the site of an appearance by, arguably, the most famous trophy in all of professional sports as The Stanley Cup will make its way to Erie, Pennsylvania for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the Mercyhurst and Erie communities alike.

This opportunity was made possible by through the support of Mercyhurst Athletics, Mercyhurst Student Life, the Mercyhurst Student Government, and Mercyhurst's Student Activities Council.

Viewing of the Cup will be open to the general public at the Mercyhurst Student Union from 4:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. and then the Cup will find a new home for the night at the Mercyhurst Ice Center during the Lakers' Division I men's hockey game against the Falcons of Bentley University. Faceoff is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.

The two-game series against Bentley is a first-place showdown in the Atlantic Hockey Association standings as the Lakers' hold a two-point lead over the Falcons as the final month of the regular season approaches. The teams will begin the series on Friday night at 7:05 p.m.

Donations will be accepted and all donations generated will go to the Wounded Warrior Project to raise awareness and to enlist the public's aid for the needs of injured service members and to provide unique, direct programs and services to meet the needs of injured service members.

Current Mercyhurst athletic trainer and equipment manager Mike Folga worked in the National Hockey League as an equipment manager for 11 seasons and was the head equipment manager for the Stanley Cup-winning New York Rangers in 1994. He was also picked as a member of the support staff for the NHL's All-Star Game that season.

Folga got his Stanley Cup ring, but he never got his day with the Cup. There will be a small presentation during one of the intermissions on Saturday where Folga will get to hoist Lord Stanley's Cup.

As an added bonus for the weekend, fans who attend Friday night's game against Bentley will receive a voucher for free admission to attend Saturday's game. Fans with that voucher will also get first chance to see the Cup at the Mercyhurst Ice Center during Saturday's game prior to opening faceoff. Fans without the voucher will have to pay full admission to Saturday's game but will be able to see the Cup during intermissions.

For more information about the events on Saturday, please contact either Preston Reilly, Activities and Spirit Coordinator, at (814) 824-2433 or David Leisering, Sports Information Director, at (814) 824-2525.