The Stanley Cup, the championship trophy awarded annually to the National Hockey League (NHL) playoff champion, is the oldest existing trophy in North American professional sports. Commissioned in 1892 as the Dominion Hockey Challenge Cup, it was named after Lord Stanley of Preston, the Governor General of Canada, who donated it as an award to Canada's top amateur ice hockey club. Moreover, its significance expanded as professional teams became eligible to compete for it in 1906. Today, the Stanley Cup represents the pinnacle of professional hockey supremacy.
Throughout its history, the Stanley Cup has been awarded a combined 106 times to 21 current NHL teams and five teams no longer in existence. With over three thousand names engraved on it, including over thirteen hundred players, the Stanley Cup stands as a timeless symbol of hockey excellence and achievement.
Stanley Cup Trophy Actual Size
The Stanley Cup trophy weighs 34.5 pounds and stands 35.25 inches tall, according to the NHL. Originally donated in 1892 as the "Dominion Challenge Cup," it was initially only 7.28 inches tall.
Unlike other sports trophies, a new Stanley Cup is not made every year. Instead, winning teams have possession of the Cup during the summer and for a limited time during the season. Engravings of winning team members' names adorn its bands, a tradition dating back to 1924. The Cup has a "24/7 bodyguard," Phil Pritchard, known as the Keeper of the Cup, who ensures its safety while traveling. While there is no permanent owner, the Cup resides in the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto when not on the road.
How much is the Stanley Cup worth?
The original Stanley Cup, donated in 1892 by Sir Frederick Arthur Stanley, holds immense historical and sentimental value. It was purchased for 10 guineas ($50 at the time) and has since become a symbol of professional hockey supremacy.
While its financial worth is immeasurable due to its historical significance and cultural value, it stands as the oldest trophy competed for by professional athletes in North America. However, based on the value of the materials it's made of, primarily silver, and considering its craftsmanship and historical significance, experts have estimated its approximate value to be around $23,478.
Who has won the most Stanley Cups?
The Montreal Canadiens hold the record for the most Stanley Cup victories, with a total of 24 wins in the history of the National Hockey League. In addition to the Montreal Canadiens' 24 Stanley Cup victories, the Toronto Maple Leafs follow closely behind with 13 wins, while the Detroit Red Wings have secured the cup 11 times.
FAQ's On Stanley Cup trophy
A. The Stanley Cup trophy stands 35.25 inches tall and weighs 34.5 pounds, as per NHL standards.
A. No, unlike other trophies, the Stanley Cup is not remade annually. Winning teams possess it during the summer and part of the season.
A. Phil Pritchard, known as the Keeper of the Cup, ensures its safety as a "24/7 bodyguard" while it's on the road.
A. The Cup resides in the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto when not on the road.
A. Experts estimate its worth to be around $23,478, considering its historical significance and material value, primarily silver.
