Welcome to Star Wears, where our Short Shifts squad will highlight each participating NHL team’s unique and creative way to honor their player of the game after each victory, handing them a token of appreciation that usually lasts at least one season, and sometimes takes on a life of its own.
Team: Toronto Maple Leafs
Item: WWE-style championship belt with the Maple Leafs logo in the center
Origin Story: Longtime Maple Leafs defenseman Morgan Rielly was gifted the belt by WWE Superstar Edge, aka Adam Copeland. The two met at a wrestling event years ago.
City team/connection (dubious or otherwise): Copeland, who has won a whopping 31 WWE championship belts in his career, is a big Maple Leafs fan who has done some voiceover and promotional work for the team. He is a native of Orangeville, Ontario, about an hour-and-a-half outside Toronto.
Fun Fact: A real WWE championship belt can weigh up to 20 pounds, depending on the division. Edge originally had two, high-quality belts and brought one from home for Rielly to begin the tradition, which has endured for a number of years.
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