What's This "CUP" You Speak Of?

The Stanley Cup was purchased in 1892 by the Governor General of Canada, Lord Frederick Stanley.  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.

There are technically three versions of the Stanley Cup; The original 1892 bowl, the 1963 authenticated "Presentation Cup", and the 1993 "Replica Cup" at the Hall of Fame.

The original 1892 purchased and donated by Lord Stanley, was physically awarded to the Champions until 1970, and is now displayed in the Vault Room at the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto, Ontario.

The authenticated version or "Presentation Cup" was created in 1963 by Montreal silversmith Carl Petersen. NHL president Clarence Campbell felt that the original bowl was becoming too thin and fragile, and thus requested a duplicate trophy as a replacement. The Presentation Cup is authenticated by the seal of the Hockey Hall of Fame on the bottom, which can be seen when winning players lift the Cup over their heads, and it is the one currently awarded to the champions of the playoffs and used for promotions.This version was made in secret, and its production was only revealed three years later.

The replica trophy, called the "Replica Cup", was created in 1993 by Montreal silversmith Louise St. Jacques to be used as a stand-in at the Hockey Hall of Fame whenever the Presentation Cup is not available for display. There are very few differences between the authenticated version and the replica version. The surest way to identify one version from the other is to check the engraving for the 1984 Stanley Cup winning Edmonton Oilers. The authenticated version has x's engraved over Basil Pocklington's name whereas his name is completely missing from the replica version.

Fun Facts

• The current Stanley Cup is made of silver and nickel alloy and is 35.24 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.
• Twelve women have their names inscribed on the Cup. The first was Marguerite Norris, who was the president of the Detroit Red Wings for their 1954-55 season victory. Sonia Scurfield is the only Canadian woman to have her name inscribed; she was the co-owner of the 1988-89 champion Calgary Flames.
• The Cup is always accompanied by at least one representative of the Hockey Hall of Fame, dubbed the “Keeper of the Cup.” The current Keeper, Philip Pritchard, has held the position since 1991 and even maintains a Twitter account to update followers on where the Cup goes from day to day. 
  

• The Cup is assigned two trustees that have absolute power over all matters regarding the Stanley Cup. The trustees include former NHL Executive Vice President Brian O’Neill and Ian “Scotty” Morrison, longtime NHL referee-in-chief and former president and chairman of the Hockey Hall of Fame.

MRYHA SHOUT OUT

Thanks to Hubie McDonough!

 

I wish to thank Hubie for bringing the cup to Saint Anselm College and allowing the MRYHA families the opportunity to touch, hug, and photograph the "CUP".