Eric Robinson #50 during the Carolina Hurricanes Stanley Cup Final Victory Parade at Lenovo Center on June 20, 2026 in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Josh Lavallee/NHLI via Getty Images) Carolina Hurricanes forward Eric Robinson brought the Stanley Cup home to Hollydell Ice Arena in Sewell, New Jersey, on August 20 and made a difference in his championship celebration. The South Jersey native shared the trophy with his old coach, Guy Gaudreau, who helped mould Robinson in his early years of hockey.Robinson’s family, friends, former teammates, young hockey players and members of the local community all came to celebrate. Robinson’s connection with Hollydell goes back a long way, so the visit is more than a typical Stanley Cup stop. And it was back on the ice where his NHL journey began. He grew up with the Gaudreau family.
Eric Robinson brings Stanley Cup to Guy Gaudreau
In a full-circle moment tied to Eric Robinson’s South Jersey roots, he delivered the Stanley Cup to Guy Gaudreau at Hollydell Ice Arena.Robinson grew up playing at Hollydell and attended Gloucester Catholic High School, whereGuy Gaudreau was his coach. The coach was known for pushing his players hard, and Robinson had previously said he was instrumental in developing the competitive mindset that became part of his hockey career.The connection went beyond coaching, too. Robinson grew up alongside Buddy Robinson around Guy Gaudreau and his sons Johnny Gaudreau and Matthew Gaudreau. Johnny Gaudreau eventually became a teammate of Robinson’s when he joined the Columbus Blue Jackets, deepening the families’ long-standing hockey ties.
How Eric Robinson’s 2026 Stanley Cup journey adds context
Robinson helped the Carolina Hurricanes win the 2026 Stanley Cup, beating the Vegas Golden Knights in six games. It was an NHL career high for postseason scoring as he had eight playoff points, three goals and five assists during the championship run.In Carolina, he made a particularly big impact in the Eastern Conference Final against the Montreal Canadiens. Robinson had three goals and one assist in five games as the Hurricanes advanced to the Stanley Cup Final.Gaudreau said the celebration was emotional for him and called Robinson a son while reflecting on how the forward continued to improve through hard work. Also honoured at the event were Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau, who were killed riding bicycles in August 2024.For Robinson, the trip to Hollydell with the Cup was also an opportunity for local youth to see a hometown boy become an NHL champion. There were hundreds in attendance, including the Hollydell Hurricanes youth program. It was a real-life example of how a player from a local rink can make it to the highest level of hockey.
Why the Stanley Cup visit resonates across South Jersey
Robinson’s visit linked a championship achievement to the people and place that helped start his career. The event was not so much a celebration of the Carolina Hurricanes’ title, but more of a focus on coaching, community, family and the lasting effects of youth hockey.For the next generation at Hollydell, Robinson’s return was a real-life example that the road from a local rink to the NHL can be real.