The Stanley Cup has been around the NHL longer than any other team, player or coach. The Cup has traveled the world. It's been to some of the greatest parties - with rock stars, movie stars and even the President. Find out more about hockey's most famous trophy right here.
History
The Stanley Cup was purchased in 1892 by the Governor General of Canada, Lord Frederick Stanley, who wanted a challenge cup that the best hockey teams in Canada could compete for. The first team to win the silver trophy was the Montreal Amateur Athletic Association, who won Lord Stanley's Cup in 1893. Since 1927, the Cup has been awarded to winner of the NHL playoffs. Each team that wins has their team name and the names of the players and coaches engraved on the cup.
Records
- The Montreal Canadiens have won the Stanley Cup 24 times - more than any other team in NHL history.
- Henri Richard, of the Montreal Canadiens, won a record 11 Stanley Cup titles.
- In 1988, Wayne Gretzky set a Stanley Cup Finals record by scoring 13 points (three goals, 10 assists) against the Boston Bruins.
- Patrick Roy has been named the Stanley Cup Playoff MVP three times, more than any other player.
- During the 1905 Stanley Cup Finals, Frank McGee of the Ottawa Silver Seven scored 14 goals in one game!
Travelling Trophy
- In 1905, a team from Dawson City, Yukon traveled for 23 days by dogsled, boat and train to Ottawa to play for the Stanley Cup against the Ottawa Silver Seven. After finally arriving in Ottawa, the team from Dawson City got smoked in both games: 9-2 and 22-3.
- When the New Jersey Devils won the Stanley Cup in 2003, goaltender, Martin Brodeur took the Cup to a movie theater and ate popcorn out of it.
- In 1996, Sylvain Lefebvre of the Colorado Avalanche had his first child baptized in the Stanley Cup.
- The Stanley Cup has travelled to several different coutries including the Czech Republic, Sweden, Russia, Finland, Japan, Switzerland and the Bahamas.
- The Stanley Cup is now accompanied by a body guard on all its adventures.
Fun Facts
- The Stanley Cup is two feet, 11 inches tall and weighs 34.5 pounds.
- There are more than 2,200 different names engraved on the Stanley Cup, including players, coaches and owners of the Cup-winning teams.
- Every 13 years, a new ring is added to the bottom of the Stanley Cup to add more names of the Cup's winners.
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