Stanley Cup Trophy Information
Over the past few weeks as the NHL playoffs have been raging I was thinking about how interesting the history behind the Stanley cup must be. After doing some research I have found a great video clip and compiled this short fact list:
- The trophy dates back to 1892 when Lord Frederick Stanley donated the cup in order to award a prize to the best hockey team. Originally dubbed the Dominion Hockey Challenge Cup. The Cup was originally bought for 10 Guineas or 50$.
- Montreal Amateur Athletic Association was the first team to be awarded the cup in 1893.
- In 1915 the NHA and the PCHA reached an agreement that the leagues would face off each year and battle it out for the cup.
- Cup has been awarded 94 times by 17 active NHL teams
- In 1927 the NHL began awarding the Stanley Cup to the end of the year champion.
- The Montreal Canadians have hoisted the Stanley Cup a record 24 different times.
- Ted Lindsay of the 1950 Detroit Red Wings was the first player to skate around the rink hoisted the Cup overhead.
- Out of superstition and tradition players will not touch the cup until after winning the playoffs, hoisting the cup overhead.
- Three Stanley Cups: -The Replica held at the Hall of Fame- The Original that was used until 1970, is now displayed in a vault at the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto, Ontario.- Finally the Presentation cup used in the presentation ceremony
- After the cup becomes full of names a new ring is added onto the bottom. It is the only professional trophy where the name of every member of the champion team is inscribed.
- Each player on the winning squad enjoy 24 hours with the cup.
- Traveled to many different countries some of which include the Bahamas, Switzerland, Japan, Finland, Russia, Czech Republic, Sweden and Afghanistan and is now accompanied by a bodyguard during all trips.
- Martin Brodeur ate popcorn out of the cup after winning in 2003.
- In 1996 Colorado Avalanche player Sylvain Lefebvre baptized his son in the cup.
- Several errors on the cup. Example “Pat McReavy” misspelled “McCreavy” in 1941. In 2006 Adam “Deadmarsh” name was spelled “Deadmarch”.