Lord Stanley's Mug

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Everyone is familiar with the image of a beaming, padded athlete triumphantly brandishing the Stanley Cup. Sometimes he will kiss it. But how many people know the aristocratic origins of this historic piece of hockey memorabilia?

It's actually very well documented. On March 18th, 1982 the Ottawa Amateur Athletic Association was holding a dinner. Perhaps after tipping back a couple lagers, Lord Kilcoursie, a player on the Ottawa Rebels team, stood up and delivered a proclamation from Lord Stanley. It ran like this:

"I have for some time been thinking that it would be a good thing if there were a challenge cup which should be held from year to year by the champion hockey team in the Dominion (of Canada).

"There does not appear to be any such outward sign of a championship at present, and considering the general interest which matches now elicit, and the importance of having the game played fairly and under rules generally recognized, I am willing to give a cup which shall be held from year to year by the winning team."

Lord Stanley was good for his word, and he went out to purchase the famous sterling cup. The handsome, silver piece of hockey memorabilia set the good Lord Stanley back only 10 guineas (that's approximately $50 to us) but became one of the most coveted pieces of sports memorabilia ever.

The first winners of the Stanley Cup were the Montreal Amateur Athletic Association, in an all-Canadian league in 1893. But Lord Stanley was no there to see his trophy embraced. He returned to England during the 1893 season. Today, the Stanley cup is open to international competition. And Lord Stanley would certainly smile to see that the prestigious, hotly competed for cup still carries his name. The Stanley Cup is still awarded annually to the champion of the NHL.