Walt Neubrand has heard it all before.
"Where do you keep the white gloves? Can I just hold it over my head? Can I just have one drink out of it?"
Neubrand works for the Hockey Hall of Fame and is one of the team members who shepherds the Stanley Cup all across the world for members of the winning team.
While Neubrand's boss Phil Pritchard is so well-known that he has his own television commercials, Neubrand has equally as tough a job, as he has to accompany the Stanley Cup for a week or more at a time on a rotational basis.
His last 10 days with it this summer brought him to New Westminster and Bill Ranford's day with the trophy before ending in Kenora, Ont. with Mike Richards.
That's perfect timing for Neubrand because after a family vacation, it's back to work teaching Grade 6 in suburban Toronto.
"Yes, I have another job," said the affable Neubrand. "When I got out of teachers' college 15 years ago, there were no teaching jobs so I applied for a job at the hall of fame. I was doing a bunch of different jobs there and then Phil asked if I wanted to do this. - I've been doing it in the summer for the last 15 years."
Neubrand's job is to make sure the Stanley Cup is safe and treated respectfully at all times.
Working in conjunction with the day's recipient, Neubrand makes sure that the trophy isn't disrespected or damaged.
There's a certain level of trust Neubrand has with the day's recipient, meaning he doesn't always have to be with the trophy 24/7.
"In Port McNeill, Willie (Mitchell) wanted to go fishing with it at 4: 30 a.m. I'd only gotten one-and-a-half hours of sleep before so I told him to be careful."
Later on, Mitchell took the trophy to the top of Mt. Benedict and Neubrand left the defenceman on the peak alone.
"Willie told me that was one of his favourite times that day," said Neubrand. "He was there looking at all the names on the trophy and knowing that his would be on there soon."
(Because of the trophy's travel schedule, engraving of the 2012 names won't take place until the L.A. Kings' summer tour ends.)
Neubrand's favourite time with the trophy was on a tour to Nunavut.
"It was -65 (Celsius) there in Rankin Inlet and we travelled there by snowmobile, and we had caribou meat," said Neubrand. "That trip really does stick out for me."
Neubrand doesn't remember all the names of people he's met, but many familiar faces show up.
In fact, a couple who were part of Mark Recchi's celebrations in 2006 with Carolina and 2011 with Boston come up to say hello to Neubrand in New Westminster and relive past stories.
"I just talked to Erik Cole, too," said Neubrand of the former Carolina Hurricanes forward now playing for Montreal.
Neubrand also texts Bruins' forward Milan Lucic to see what he's up to. Neubrand can't help but laugh when he tells the story of how Lucic didn't want to see his day with the trophy end, going so far as to accompany Neubrand as he checked into his hotel.
Even when pressed on who his favourite player with the Stanley Cup has been, Neubrand cracks and gives an answer that should surprise nobody.
"Nicklas Lidstrom (of Detroit) was so classy, so professional, and so good with everybody, from his family to the janitor," said Neubrand. "He is always so positive and such a pleasure to be around."
On the negative side, Neubrand has learned that the danger time each day comes in the final hours.
"Every day, around 9 to 9: 30 p.m., that's when something crazy might happen," he said. "There's usually alcohol involved, and people think I'm not paying attention. - I am. I have to be. That's part of my job."
And there's a certain tedium that creeps into the job even if it is the most exciting day for almost everybody else who sees the Stanley Cup.
"It's like Groundhog Day for me," he said. "It may be a different setting but there usually is a routine. There's time with the family, there's a community event, there's sometimes a trip to a setting like a mountain, and then it's off, usually to a nightclub. - And then I take it to the next city, and we do it all again."
As for the answers to the questions Neubrand is asked most often, he pulls out gloves from his front pockets to show he's always got them on hand, people can hold it over their heads as long as the recipient, in this case Bill Ranford, is also holding it, and you can have a drink as long as the recipient is pouring it.
As for what the future holds, Neubrand said he still enjoys doing both his jobs as trophy minder and teacher.
"I'm kind of famous. I do have my own Wikipedia entry, but I don't really think you've made it big until you appear on Sesame Street," he joked.
"I'll take some vacation time with my family, and then it's back to teaching. - Funny thing is at my school, it's pretty multicultural so the big sports are soccer and cricket. Every three years, I do bring it into my school, and the kids are pretty impressed."
