Whitehorse hockey fans had a special treat Saturday. For the first time in history, the championship trophy of the National Hockey League found its way north and was publicly displayed at the Gold Rush Inn.

The Stanley Cup, known originally as the Dominion Hockey Challenge Cup, was purchased by former Canadian governor general Lord Stanley in 1892 to be used as an award for the nation's championship hockey team.

With the exceptions of 1919, when there was a flu epidemic, and 2005, when a labour dispute wiped out the entire season, the Cup has been presented to a championship team every year since 1893.

Before the inn's doors opened, at the front of the line was Colin Young, one of Whitehorse's many hockey fans. For him and his sons, it was an important occasion to be a part of.

'It's the great Canadian pastime and an opportunity to see an icon of dedication, passion and commitment,' Young said. 'Getting to see it this way was a hell of a lot cheaper than flying south.'

As he said so, the next fan in line, who wished to remain anonymous, stressed how important it was to be there early for the event.

'You're only talking to us so you can get in first,' she said. 'The back of the line's back there. You wanna bud in front of us? Then you'll see a real hockey brawl.'

In all, hundreds of people came to see the coveted prize of the NHL. There were the young and the old, men and women, and even a wedding party.

'We told the priest to hold off while we go to see the Cup,' they said jokingly.

The groom, Mike Tuton, refused to comment on which was the bigger event of the day.

'It's been a pretty good day,' he said. 'Getting to see the Stanley Cup and getting married, you can't beat that.'

The Cup came north not specifically for Whitehorse, however, but rather for Dawson City. The Dawson City Nuggets, who competed for the Cup in 1905, initiated the push to bring it north for their hockey centennial.

'We'd been trying to get the Cup for a while,' said Brian Gudmundson, a member of the Nuggets.

'At the end of July, the hockey Hall of Fame called to say we'd get it three weeks from then. So there wasn't much preparation time. We wanted to commemorate the Yukon's attempt to win the holy grail.'

Gudmundson's partner, May, said having the Cup was all for the kids.

'I think having it here is the perfect opportunity for a whole bunch of kids to get excited about hockey, to feel and touch the Cup,' she said. 'It's all about them.'

Phil Pritchard, of the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto, accompanied the Cup on its journey to the territory.

'It's the 100th anniversary of Dawson competing for the Cup,' said Pritchard. 'It's a great story, not only for hockey but for the history of Canada. Canada and hockey grew up together. It's embedded in our culture.'

The Cup has a powerful effect on people, said Pritchard, citing how it had gotten him out of trouble on more than one occasion.

'I've gotten out of 12 of 13 speeding tickets with it,' he said. 'When I get pulled over, I'll say, I'm sorry, officer, but I was late and I have the Stanley Cup in the back and I was in a hurry to get it somewhere.''

'You have the Stanley Cup?' the cop would say, Can I see it?''

'Well,' I'd say, what are you going to do for me....?''

Also travelling with the Cup from the Hall of Fame was Walt Neubrand. He said more than 1,000 people saw the Cup in Dawson late last week.

'I think the whole town came to see it in Dawson,' he said. 'Everyone's been very good, very respectful.'

The Cup's appearance in Whitehorse was not part of the original itinerary, and came only after successful lobbying efforts from Yukon Quest sled dog race officials, the Whitehorse Oldtimers Hockey League and Whitehorse Minor Hockey League.

Stephen Reynolds, the Quest's Yukon manager, said there was a strong connection between hockey and dogsledding in the Yukon.

'In 1905, the Nuggets travelled from Dawson City to Whitehorse, to compete for the Cup,' said Reynolds. 'In 1997, there was a re-enactment of this.'

'Just watch their faces,' he said. 'Everyone's reading it and getting into it. There's people here of all ages, all nationalities. It's a great thing for the territory to have this honour.'

The Cup brought with it not only a historical link to the past, but also a renewed enthusiasm for the future of hockey, now that the prolonged labour dispute has been settled and it's certain there will be an NHL season this year.

Gudmundson said he doesn't know what to expect this year, but is excited about the possibilities.

'There's been such a shuffle, a balancing of the teams. It seems like everyone's got an equal chance now,' he said.

'It couldn't have been better for the game. There's a lot more interest now. People are excited and talking about the upcoming season.'

Neubrand echoed these sentiments.

'People are gonna see how the new teams are set up with the new rules,' he said. 'It'll be interesting to see how the new teams will adjust with all the movement going on.'

Joining the Stanley Cup on display were the Conn Smythe Trophy, the World Cup and the Hart Memorial Trophy.