The History

The Stanley Cup

The Stanley Cup is the oldest trophy played for today in America by pro athletes. The cup was first donated in 1892 by men named Sir Frederick Arthur Stanley, Lord Stanley of Preston, and son of Earl of Derby. The Stanley Cup was purchased for 10 Guineas, which was 50.00 dollars at the time. The trophy was presented to "The Championship Hockey Club of the Dominion of Canada." The first to to ever win the Stanley Cup was the Montreal  Amateur Athletic Association in 1893. In 1910 the National Hockey Association were given the Stanley Cup, and ever since the trophy has been symbolic to hockey. In 1926 only NHL teams were allowed to compete for the trophy. The Montreal Canadians have the most Stanley cup victories, with winning 23. The Toronto Maple leafs are second in the National Hockey League for most Stanley Cup victories, with 13 victories. Another record held by the Montreal Canadians is most consecutive Stanley Cup wins, the Canadians have won 5 Stanley Cups from the years 1956 to 1960. On the Stanley cup are rings which are placed at the bottom of the cup, every year when a team wins the cup, their name is then engraved on the rings. When there is too many rings, the rings are then retired into the Hall of Fame in Lord Stanly's Vault. As of this point the Cup consists of a bowl, three tiered bands, a collar, and a 5 barrel or uniform bands. The Cup stands at 35 and 1/4 inches, and weighs 34 and 1/2 pounds. Each year, the winning team is presented with the Stanley Cup. Each player and staff member gets to enjoy 24 hours with the cup which is tradition in only the NHL. In the years of the tradition the Stanley Cup has traveled all over the world, including places like Russia, Japan, and Switzerland. The cup has been at peaks of mountains in the Rocky Mountains, and even in igloos in Canada's newest territory called Nunavut. The Stanley Cup trophy is the legend and the glory of the NHL today and is the dream of all hockey players today.

Wayne Gretzky holding the Stanley Cup