No Stanley Cup? No problem. Canadiens fan makes near-exact replica using 3D printer
The Montreal Canadiens haven't brought the Stanley Cup home since 1993 -- but a very convincing replica is sitting in a garage in Boisbriand, Que., about 35 km northwest of Montreal.
Hobbyist Shawn Wilson created a life-sized model using a 3D printer.
Wilson is a woodworker, but this particular creation is made of plastic and painted silver.
He's got it down to the last detail, with thousands of names engraved on those unmistakable five barrel rings, alongside the dates that defined hockey history.
"I had to type each name by hand," Wilson told CTV News. "It brings back a lot of the memories."
He began the project last summer when the Habs made the NHL's Eastern Conference final.
First, he spent over 100 hours in front of a computer, designing the model.
Shawn Wilson spend over 100 hours in front of the computer, creating the blueprints for his Stanley Cup replica. (CTV News)
Once the blueprint was finished, he programmed the 3D printer to build up the legendary trophy layer by layer and piece by piece.
"The top bowl is one piece, but all these barrels actually screw together similar to the Stanley Cup, so that every 13 years you can add to the bottom and keep the cup up to date," Wilson explained.
The cup has more than 2,300 names on it and a blank space to inscribe last season's Stanley Cup winners.
The Colorado Avalanche will be the latest roster added after their victory against the Tampa Bay Lightning -- the latest chapter in a 130-year-old saga.
The cup replica was 3D printed in plastic and coated with silver paint. (CTV News)
"The cup has a famous history. It's been stolen, horses have eaten out of it," Wilson said.
He himself has eaten out of the replica, but prefers to show it off in his garage.
"Why not have a Stanley Cup replica to put in the man cave display?"
While it's a near-perfect copy, there is one key difference.
Wilson's model is a near-exact replica of the Stanley Cup, right down to the smallest details. (CTV News)
"I did change the logo a little, but just so it doesn't have infringement [issues]," Wilson explained.
The Habs didn't take home hardware last season. But for Wilson, this replica feels a lot like a silver lining.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Young people 'tortured' if stolen vehicle operations fail, Montreal police tell MPs
One day after a Montreal police officer fired gunshots at a suspect in a stolen vehicle, senior officers were telling parliamentarians that organized crime groups are recruiting people as young as 15 in the city to steal cars so that they can be shipped overseas.
'It was joy': Trapped B.C. orca calf eats seal meat, putting rescue on hold
A rescue operation for an orca calf trapped in a remote tidal lagoon off Vancouver Island has been put on hold after it started eating seal meat thrown in the water for what is believed to be the first time.
Man sets self on fire outside New York court where Trump trial underway
A man set himself on fire on Friday outside the New York courthouse where Donald Trump's historic hush-money trial was taking place as jury selection wrapped up, but officials said he did not appear to have been targeting Trump.
Sask. father found guilty of withholding daughter to prevent her from getting COVID-19 vaccine
Michael Gordon Jackson, a Saskatchewan man accused of abducting his daughter to prevent her from getting a COVID-19 vaccine, has been found guilty for contravention of a custody order.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
She set out to find a husband in a year. Then she matched with a guy on a dating app on the other side of the world
Scottish comedian Samantha Hannah was working on a comedy show about finding a husband when Toby Hunter came into her life. What happened next surprised them both.
B.C. judge orders shared dog custody for exes who both 'clearly love Stella'
In a first-of-its-kind ruling, a B.C. judge has awarded a former couple joint custody of their dog.
Saskatoon police to search landfill for remains of woman missing since 2020
Saskatoon police say they will begin searching the city’s landfill for the remains of Mackenzie Lee Trottier, who has been missing for more than three years.
Shivering for health: The myths and truths of ice baths explained
In a climate of social media-endorsed wellness rituals, plunging into cold water has promised to aid muscle recovery, enhance mental health and support immune system function. But the evidence of such benefits sits on thin ice, according to researchers.