The Stanley Cup is always accompanied by a handler, one of several who rotate, and is supplied by the Hockey Hall of Fame. On the surface, being 'keeper of the Cup' is the greatest job in the world, but underneath that shiny veneer, it truly is one of the great unheralded jobs -- too many nights with no sleep, too many meals eaten on the fly racing through the airport to make a connecting flight, and extended travel that takes the keeper away from family and friends over long periods of time. Yet, there's not a hockey fan we've met yet who wouldn't trade his or her soul for the chance to accompany the greatest trophy in sport — the Stanley Cup.
Mike Bolt spends almost as much time with the Stanley Cup as the NHL's championship team. Crisscrossing the continent, Mike ensures that the rights and privileges that accompany winners of the Stanley Cup are both enjoyed and upheld, doing so in a firm yet most entertaining way. Loved by both players and management, Bolt is a hockey fan first and foremost, but treats his job with the seriousness it demands. Even NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman once took him aside and said, "You've got an awesome job."
Born and raised in Toronto, Mike dreamed of one day hoisting the Stanley Cup just like every other hockey-playing youngster. After all, the Leaside area in which he grew up was rich in hockey heritage -- former Maple Leafs George Armstrong, Carl Brewer, Bob Davidson and Cal Gardner all called the area home. But life took a different turn early on, as Mike's career saw him managing a cowboy boot and western wear store. It wasn't until 1995, when he joined the Hockey Hall of Fame working on special events and as a guest services associate, that the path veered back towards hockey. Mike's first foray with the Stanley Cup was a quick jaunt down the street from the Hockey Hall of Fame to the studios of the CBC, Canada's public broadcaster, in 1997.
The Stanley Cup will be in attendance this evening for Game 6 between the Flyers and Blackhawks at Wachovia Center .  If you were going to place a bet at an online sportsbook, who do you think leaves with the cup?  Will it be the Blackhawks captain, Jonathan Toews or Mike Bolt, the "keeper of the cup"?Â
As the custodian who accompanies the Stanley Cup, I would say Mike Bolt has an amazing job watching the players live a childhood dream, raising the Stanley Cup.
As we know the Flyers and Blackhawks are battling it out for the 2010 Stanley Cup. Â There is no love loss between the two teams and the hatred thermometer is rising. Â Just ask Ben Eager and Chris Pronger if they like each other. Â
However, while these two great teams continue to battle each other, we thought it would be fun to discuss which of the two teams would have the best all-time line up and who would win the Stanley Cup between the two of them.
So without further ado, The Hockey Zen brings to you the starting line ups for each team.
Philadelphia Flyers
The Flyers were part of the 1967 NHL Expansion, the Flyers were the first non-Original Six team to win the Stanley Cup, victorious in 1973-74 and again in 1974-75.
Bernie Parent:Â The entire history of the Philadelphia Flyers would have been different without Bernie Parent. It is extremely unlikely that they would have won either of their two Stanley Cups without him. Parent was not only the greatest goaltender in franchise history; he was one of the best to ever grace a National Hockey League crease.
Ron Hextall: Hextall joined the Philadelphia Flyers for the 1986–87 season and played until 1991–92. In his first year, he was the winner of the Vezina Trophy (NHL's Best Goaltender), named a First Team All-Star, and named to the NHL All-Rookie Team. He also won the Conn Smythe Trophy as the Flyers took the eventual champions Edmonton Oilers to seven games during the Stanley Cup Finals. The Calder Trophy was the only honor that eluded Hextall that year as he finished second behind Luc Robitaille. Hextall is one of only two goaltenders, along with Henrik Lundqvist, to record at least 30 wins in his first three NHL seasons, which Hextall did from 1986–1989.  Hextall was also known as one of the toughest and craziest goaltenders in the NHL.  Just ask Chris Chelios.
Defense
Mark Howe:Â Howe played 16 seasons in the National Hockey League and 6 seasons in the World Hockey Association. He is the son of Gordie Howe, and early in his career was a teammate of his father. Despite the enormous shadow cast by his father and splitting time between two leagues, Mark shone as one of the best two-way defensemen of the 1980s, being a three time runner-up for the Norris Trophy and making the Stanley Cup finals three times. He is a member of the United States Hockey Hall of Fame.
Chris Pronger: Pronger was originally selected 2nd overall by the Hartford Whalers in the 1993 NHL Entry Draft and played for them from 1993–95, followed by the St. Louis Blues (from 1995–2004), the Edmonton Oilers (from 2005–06), and the Anaheim Ducks (from 2006–2009), with whom he won a championship. He won the Hart Trophy as the league's most valuable player in the 1999–2000 season and was the first defenceman to win the award since Bobby Orr in 1972.
Forwards
Tim Kerr:  Kerr was a pure goal scorer with an amazing wrist shot.  Kerr was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Philadelphia Flyers. It proved to be a great move for Philadelphia, as Kerr scored 50 goals four times, and set the NHL single-season record for power-play goals in a season with 34 in the 1985–86 season.
Bobby Clarke: Â Nuts!!! Â Clarke and Hextall on the same team would be a visiting teams nightmare. Â Played his entire National Hockey League career with the Philadelphia Flyers and is currently an executive with the team. During his 15 season playing career, he led the Flyers to two Stanley Cups and was awarded the Hart Trophy as league MVP three times. A 1987 inductee into the Hockey Hall of Fame, Clarke was rated number 24 on The Hockey News' list of The Top 100 NHL Players of All-Time in 1998. Â He was a mean SOB as well.
Rick MacLeish:  MacLeish was drafted 4th overall by the Boston Bruins in the 1970 NHL Amateur Draft after playing the majority of his junior career with the Peterborough Petes.  After splitting the 1971–72 season between the Flyers and Richmond Robins, MacLeish scored 50 goals and 50 assists during the 1972–73 season.  He won two Stanley Cups with the Flyers in 1974 and 1975.
Chicago Blackhawks
The Chicago Blackhawks joined the NHL in 1926 as part of the league's first wave of expansion into the United States. They were one of three American teams added that year, along with the Detroit Cougars (now the Detroit Red Wings) and New York Rangers. Â They have won three Stanley Cup Championships and fourteen division titles since their founding in 1926. The Blackhawks are one of the Original Six NHL teams, along with the Boston Bruins, Montreal Canadiens, Toronto Maple Leafs, New York Rangers and Detroit Red Wings.
Tony Esposito: Â Eposito was one of the pioneers of the now popular butterfly style. Tony is the younger brother of Phil Esposito, a centre. Both brothers had notable careers and are enshrined in the Hockey Hall of Fame. Â Tony O. was one of just eight goalies to win the Vezina catching the puck right-handed.
Ed Belfour:  Well we know which two goaltenders would square off if there was a bench clearing brawl in this Cup Final.  Belfour's characteristic face mask earned him the sobriquet "Eddie the Eagle", and some of his quirks and off-ice antics earned him the nickname "Crazy Eddie".  Belfour helped lead the Blackhawks to the Stanley Cup Finals in the 1991–92 season, where they eventually lost in 4 games to the Pittsburgh Penguins, led by Mario Lemieux.  Many regard Belfour as an elite goaltender and one of the best of all-time. His 484 wins rank 3rd all-time among NHL goaltenders.
Defense
Chris Chelios:  The Gordie Howe of the new era.  Chelios was the oldest active player in the NHL, had played the most games of any active player in the NHL, was the last player from the 1981 NHL Entry Draft still active (or any draft from 1986 and earlier), and had the most career penalty minutes of any active player. Chelios helped lead the Blackhawks to the Stanley Cup Final in 1992 with Ed Belfour. He was in top form for the 1992-1993 season, scoring 73 points and winning his 2nd Norris Trophy.
Pierre Pilote: Â After playing junior hockey for the St. Catharines Teepees in the Ontario Hockey Association, Pilote played minor professional hockey for the Buffalo Bisons in the American Hockey League. Pilote played 890 games in the National Hockey League. He scored 80 goals and 418 assists for 498 points in 13 seasons with the Chicago Black Hawks and one year for the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Forwards
Stan Makita: Makita generally regarded as the best centre of the 1960s, led the league in scoring four times in the decade, tying Bobby Hull's single-season scoring mark in 1966–67 with 97 points (a mark broken two years later by former teammate Phil Esposito and currently held by Wayne Gretzky).. In 1961 he won the Stanley Cup with the Chicago Black Hawks, with whom he played his entire career and amassed 1467 points.  We will also remember him for the Northland Dome helmet he wore.
Bobby Hull:Â He is regarded as one of the greatest ice hockey players of all time and perhaps the greatest left winger to ever play the game. Hull was famous for his blonde hair, blinding skating speed, and having the fastest shot, earning him the nickname "the Golden Jet". He possessed the most feared slapshot of his day. Â He became the first NHLer to score more than 50 goals in a season, surpassing Maurice Richard and Bernie Geoffrion's hallowed mark of 50 goals.
Denis Savard: He was known for his trademark move, the 'Savardian Spin-o-rama' (a term actually coined by Danny Gallivan, referencing the move performed by Serge Savard). In 1,196 NHL games, Savard scored 473 goals and 865 assists, totalling 1338 points. He trails only Bobby Hull and Stan Mikita for total points in Chicago Blackhawks history.
There ya have it. Â Who wins? Â Who else would you have on these two great teams? Â Please leave your comments below.
Hope you can use some of the following shots. Took some at the 12/31 fanfest and the 1/2 Legends Classic. Shot _0177 is Terry O'Reilly! Later boys, @HubSpokes
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