Winning the Stanley Cup is one of the most difficult tasks in modern day professional sports. It is one of the most iconic and storied trophies in all of sports. The Stanley Cup is a symbol of hard work and an emblem of excellence and dedication for the winners. The Stanley Cup trophy was first presented in 1893. It became the top trophy awarded to the best amateur hockey teams in Canada. It is now awarded to the winning team of the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs The National Hockey League took control of the cup after 1925-1926 season.
The Montreal Canadiens are the most successful team in Stanley Cup history, claiming 24 titles over the course of the league’s existence. This includes an impressive five consecutive Stanley Cup championships from 1956-1960. The Toronto Maple Leafs are behind the Canadiens in cup wins with 13 total Stanley Cup victories.
The Edmonton Oilers were a dominant team in the 1980’s and earned five Stanley Cup championships during a span of seven years. The New York Islanders also had a successful decade in the 1980’s, winning four championships in eight years. Since the 1990’s, the Detroit Red Wings have been a power house, winning four Stanley Cup championships during this time. The Chicago Blackhawks have also had their moments in the spotlight, winning three championships in a five year period 2010, 2013 and 2015. They sure suck this year though. (2023)
Phil Esposito scored 25 times in 18 games against his younger brother Tony during their NHL careers.
What Does The Stanley Cup Look Like
The Stanley Cup is a large silver bowl with a base and a stem. It is covered with bands that contain the names of the players, coaches, and personnel of the teams that have won it over the years. The Stanley Cup has changed a lot over the years. The modern day Cup design was introduced in 1958, when the old barrel was replaced with a five-band barrel, each of which could contain 13 winning teams. The Stanley Cup has been a long-standing symbol of excellence and dedication for hockey teams across the world. Originally donated by the Governor General of Canada, Lord Stanley of Preston, in 1892.
- The original 1892 Stanley Cup bowl was retired in 1962 and is now on display at the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto.
- The Stanley Cup is the oldest trophy competed for in North America
- Unlike most sports trophies the Stanley Cup is not reproduced annually but rather the names of teams, players and personnel are engraved in the cup and the winning team takes possession of the cup for one year. Each player has access to the cup for 24 hours during that year.
- In order for a player’s name to be engraved they must play at least 41 regular season games and play at least one game in the Stanley Cup final.
- The current cup is made of nickel and silver alloy and weighs about 35 pounds.
Since 1893 there have only been two years that the Stanley Cup has not been awarded, 1919 and 2005. The Spanish Flu epidemic was the cause in 1919. In 2005 it was not awarded due to a labor dispute between the NHL and its players. The league lockout lasted over ten months and resulted in over 1,230 unplayed games. The dispute mainly involved the implementation of a salary cap and revenue sharing plans. Always a bummer when administration and rules governing a sport interferes with the sport itself…. oh well, what are you going to do?
Stanley Cup Traditions and Superstitions
- The Stanley Cup is always awarded on ice by the commissioner of the NHL to the team captain of the winning team.
- Each player gets a chance to do a lap of the rink while hoisting the cup and it is tradition to kiss the cup before passing it on to the next player
- Most players consider it bad luck to touch the cup or any league trophy before it is won
- After winning the cup it is a tradition to fill the bowl with champagne and for the players to take turns drinking out of it
- It is tradition for all the players and team personnel to take a photo at center ice with the cup
- In 1957 Maurice “Rocket” Richard chipped his two front teeth while drinking from the cup
- Over the years the cup has been urinated in, kicked, left by the side of the road and even filled with dog food by Clark Gilles of the New York Islanders.
- Players on teams stop shaving and grow beards when the playoffs begin and won’t shave until they get knocked out of contention or the win the cup
It is tradition for the cup winning team to fill the bowl with champagne so the players can each have a drink in the dressing room. Fun fact….the Stanley Cup bowl can hold about 14 cans of beer.
Though the Stanley Cup trophy has changed hands many times since its inception in 1892, hockey teams and players across the world continue to strive for greatness and compete for the ultimate ice hockey prize. Through the years, numerous champions have been crowned and the sport has created a timeless legacy of triumphs and traditions. It’s no wonder that the Stanley Cup is one of the most heralded trophies in all of professional sports.
