The NHL playoffs are heating up, but before the Stanley Cup is hoisted over the heads of this year's champions, it's taking a detour to the north.

That's right hockey fans, Lord Stanley's Cup will be stopping in Whitehorse once again this year, as part of the Scotiabank Celebration of Hockey Tour.

The Stanley Cup was last in Whitehorse in March of 2009, when Holy Family Elementary School raised the winning amount of money for the Special Olympics, earning the right to host the Cup. The school raised $7,589.06, more than any other elementary school in Whitehorse.

Holy Family student Jessica Collins got the rare chance to have dinner with the Stanley Cup, after raising $1,621.56 for the fund-raiser. Usually eating a meal with the cup is an honour reserved for players only.

Altogether the contest raised $18,000 for Special Olympics Yukon.

This year the Cup is being brought to Whitehorse as part of Scotiabank's Celebration of Hockey. The Cup will be displayed at the Scotiabank on Main Street, on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The first 500 people through the doors will get a photo taken with the cup by a professional photographer.

Scotiabank branch manager Doug Janzen said the tour is part of an exclusive marketing deal the bank has with the NHL, allowing them to display the Cup at its branches.

"It's a program that gives fans a unique chance to get close to the beloved icon of hockey,” Janzen said.

Mayor Bev Buckway thanked Scotiabank for bringing the Cup to Whitehorse.

""The Stanley Cup is the most recognized professional sports trophy in Canada and an iconic piece of hockey history,” she said. "We are huge hockey fans here in Whitehorse and I know the community will be eager to have their pictures taken with the Cup and share the experience with their families. Thank you to Scotiabank for providing this incredible opportunity for our community.”

Last year the honour of hosting the Cup was given to Holy Family School, but this year the Cup will be on public display allowing anyone who would like to catch a glimpse of the artifact a chance to.

This will be the Cup's third visit here, including a short stop in 2008.

"This year it's coming up and the whole public who wants to, can get close to it,” Janzen said.

Accompanying the Cup will be the Keeper of the Cup, a representative from the Hockey Hall of Fame whose job it is to travel with the trophy.

The Hockey Hall of Fame will also be sending several artifacts with the Cup. Janzen said he is unsure what the items will be, but has heard they could include a goalie mask and jerseys.

The Cup travelling to Whitehorse will be the authentic Cup that is presented to the players on the ice following the Stanley Cup final.

"This is the Cup that they will present to the winners in June,” Janzen said.

There are actually three Stanley Cups including a replica, built in 1993 that is on display at the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto while the real version travels.

The original version of the top bowl and collar portion were deemed too brittle and were replaced in 1963 and 1969.

"This is the one that's going to be banged up and they've drank champagne out of it and everything,” Janzen said, referring to the tradition that each winning team drinks champagne out of the Cup.

Janzen said he has heard a considerable amount of talk about the Cup's visit.

"People I know in the community are excited,” he said. Scotiabank has received many calls about the event on Saturday. "It is generating a lot of interest.”

It's not hard to figure out why, for a northern hockey-crazy city like Whitehorse.

"This is bringing one of the Canadian icons to Whitehorse,” Janzen said.

The Cup was recently in Vancouver during the 2010 Olympic Winter Games, and up to 500 people an hour stopped by to see the trophy.

Janzen is not sure how many people to expect, but predicts they could see a large number of hockey fans at Scotiabank.

"I think we're going to get a huge response,” he said. "It's a great community event. I fully expect we'll have a huge turnout.”

Janzen is unsure when the Cup will actually arrive in Whitehorse, but it could be Friday afternoon along with the Keeper of the Cup.

The Cup will begin its tour of the north in Whitehorse and carry on to Yellowknife, and then to Fort McMurray.

The Cup's travel once it reaches Whitehorse is a story in itself, as the trophy will be transported by Buffalo Air, who are the airline behind the reality show Ice Pilots.

They will be filming an episode of the show featuring the Cup, starting in Whitehorse. The show will follow the Cup's journey from Whitehorse to Fort McMurray.

Janzen said this is one of a few different hockey programs Scotiabank has sponsored throughout the year, including the support of several local minor hockey teams. The bank sponsored the Whitehorse Wolverines, who were featured on CBC's Hockey Night in Canada this winter.