Traditions and anecdotes associated with the Stanley Cup

With the Stanley Cup present (l), U.S. President George W. Bush receives a commemorative jersey and mini-Cup from 2002 Stanley Cup Champion Detroit Red Wings captain Steve Yzerman. Detroit coach Scotty Bowman is at lower right.
Wounded United States Marines pose with the Stanley Cup, with Glen Wesley of the 2006 Stanley Cup Champion Carolina Hurricanes in the background (upper left, in orange).

There are many traditions and anecdotes associated with the Stanley Cup. The Stanley Cup is the championship trophy of the National Hockey League (NHL), the major professional ice hockey league in Canada and the United States. It is commonly referred to as simply "The Cup", "The Holy Grail" or facetiously (chiefly by sportswriters) as "Lord Stanley's Mug".[1]

Unlike the trophies awarded by the other three major professional sports leagues in the United States and Canada, a new Stanley Cup is not made annually; the champions keep the Cup until a new champion is crowned. It is also one of only two trophies in professional North American sports which has the name of the winning players, coaches, management, and club staff engraved upon it, the other being the CFL's Grey Cup.[2]

It is at the centre of several legends and superstitions. Many of these anecdotes involve the Stanley Cup being mistreated in some way. It is the most-travelled championship trophy in the world.

  1. ^ "The Stanley Cup coming soon to a living room near you?". CNW Group. 2007. Retrieved April 8, 2007.
  2. ^ "NHL.com - Stanley Cup Fun Facts". NHL. Archived from the original on August 10, 2010. Retrieved July 15, 2006.