The Stanley Cup

By Dee Dee Smith

The Stanley Cup is the top honor and achievement for hockey teams in the National Hockey League. 

In the early years of hockey, there was no organized contest in which to crown the champions of the sport.  According to the official NHL website, Lord Stanley, the Earl of Preston and the Governor General of Canada established a hockey championship in 1892.  Soon after, Lord Stanley purchased a silver cup to be presented to the winner of this championship.  It was agreed that instead of creating a trophy annually to be awarded to the winner, The Cup would be passed from winning team to winning team. 

After many years the cup originally purchased by Lord Stanley became a memoriam on display at the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto, Ontario.  A new and official Stanley Cup was created and custom designed by a silversmith.  Nonetheless, The Cup has changed its look over the years.  This is because of the many bands added over the years to the base of the cup.  These bands hold the names of the winning teams along with the names of the individual players, coaches and managers.  

As with other major sports leagues, the NHL is divided into two conferences - the East and the West.  At the end of the regular hockey season, a series of play-off games take place, and the winner from each conference face off for The Cup.  

Unique Facts about the Stanley Cup:

• Bands are periodically retired to make room for new ones.  Retired bands are also on display at the Hockey Hall of Fame.  
• According to the official website for the Hockey Hall of Fame, a replica of The Cup is always on display whenever the official Stanley Cup is out for presentation or on tour.  The Cup has visited schools, hospitals, hockey rinks and charitable organizations.  
• The Cup has scheduled tours.  Whenever it travels, a team of trained experts travel with it.  These individuals are responsible for guarding and taking care of it while it is away from it’s home at the Hockey Hall of Fame.  
• “In 1995, a new tradition was started: Making sure every Stanley Cup-winning player has a chance to have the Cup for a day.” (One Awesome Job … by John McGourty - http://www.nhl.com/hockeyu/history/cup/cupkeeper_mcgourty.html)
• In addition to getting their name on the prestigious Stanley Cup, winning players are also awarded a championship ring.  
• It is tradition for the winners of the Stanley Cup to drink champagne from The Cup in celebration of their victory.   

Recent Stanley Cup Winners:

2006 - 2007 -  Anaheim Ducks

2005 - 2006 -  Carolina Hurricanes

2003 - 2004 -  Tampa Bay Lightning

2002 - 2003 -  New Jersey Devils

2001 - 2002 -  Detroit Red Wings

2000 - 2001 -  Colorado Avalanche

1999 - 2000 -  New Jersey Devils