BostonBruins.com -- Twenty miles outside of Portland, Oregon lies the small city of Sherwood. By all accounts, Sherwood is a family-friendly, quaint suburban community that enjoys summer little league games and "Movies in the Park" on Friday evenings.

Benning & Stanley (photo by Ken Gregg). For a full gallery click here.

August 16th was not a typical Tuesday in Sherwood. Two very special deliveries came for Jim Benning, Sherwood resident and Assistant General Manager of the Boston Bruins.

The Stanley Cup arrived at Benning's home just as morning turned to afternoon. It was perfect timing for those gathered to enjoy the presence of the Stanley Cup to also enjoy a cup of Boston's famous Legal Seafood's clam chowder.

"We thought it was a good idea to bring out some Boston flavor, so we had it shipped out here," Benning recalls, laughing. "We had a lot of fun with the day."

After a family gathering at his home, Benning made his way to Sherwood Ice Arena to share the ultimate prize in ice hockey with Sherwood residents, hockey fans, and friends.

"The Cup, wherever you take it, seems to bring a lot of happiness to the people," Benning remarked, recalling that his most memorable moments of the day were conversations with thrilled Bruins fans and former New Englanders.

"There were a lot of people who came up and talked to me saying, 'You know, I grew up in Massachusetts or New Hampshire or Maine.' These hockey fans said to me that they've always been Boston Bruins fans. These people told me that the opportunity to have the Cup out here and get a picture with it after the Bruins won is a dream come true."

As a former player, Benning can understand that dream.

Now in management, the busy schedule of an assistant GM and the short off season has not afforded him much time to bask in the Cup's captivating glow.  "We've been so busy since the season ended we haven't really had a chance to sit down and reflect."

"When the Cup came up the driveway was the first true moment for me when it felt like we've really accomplished this great thing. That's when it really sunk in, just being able to enjoy it with my family and friends." And of course, the chowder.

---Rosemary Moran