History of Stanley Cup in Timeline

The Stanley Cup is the championship trophy of the National Hockey League (NHL), awarded annually to the playoff champion. Commissioned in 1892 by Lord Stanley of Preston, it was initially the Dominion Hockey Challenge Cup for Canada's top amateur hockey club. The Montreal Hockey Club won the first Cup in 1893. From 1893 to 1914, winners were decided through challenge games and league play. Professional teams could compete beginning in 1906. By 1915, the National Hockey Association (NHA) and the Pacific Coast Hockey Association (PCHA) agreed that their champions would play for the Cup. The Stanley Cup became the de facto NHL championship trophy in 1926 and the de jure prize in 1947. It is the oldest professional sports trophy in North America.

1902: One Ring of Engravings Full

In 1902, the first base ring, which was attached to the bottom of the original bowl by the Montreal Hockey Club was full. With no more room to engrave their names (and unwilling to pay for a second band), teams left their mark on the bowl itself.

March 1906: Montreal Wanderers Allow Professional Players

In March 1906, the Montreal Wanderers successfully pushed through a resolution to allow professional players to play alongside amateurs, leading the Cup trustees to open the challenges to professional teams.

1906: Professional Teams Eligible for Stanley Cup Challenge

In 1906, professional teams became eligible to challenge for the Stanley Cup, marking a significant shift in the competition for the trophy.

January 1907: Kenora Thistles Capture Stanley Cup

In January 1907, the Kenora Thistles, led by Art Ross and "Bad" Joe Hall, captured the Stanley Cup by defeating the Montreal Wanderers.

March 1907: Kenora Thistles Lose Stanley Cup

In March 1907, the Montreal Wanderers challenged the Kenora Thistles to a rematch and won the Stanley Cup, despite the Thistles' improved lineup.

1907: Montreal Wanderers Engrave Names on Bowl Interior

In 1907, the Montreal Wanderers became the first club to record their name on the Stanley Cup bowl's interior surface and the first champion to record the names of 20 members of their team.

1908: Introduction of Allan Cup and First All-Professional Team

In 1908, the Allan Cup was introduced for Canada's amateurs, and the Stanley Cup started to symbolize professional hockey supremacy. The first all-professional team, the Toronto Trolley Leaguers, competed for the Cup.

1908: Montreal Wanderers did not record names on the cup

In 1908, the Montreal Wanderers, despite having turned aside four challengers, did not record their names on the Cup.

1909: Ottawa Senators Added a Second Band onto the Cup

In 1909, the Ottawa Senators added a second band onto the Cup.

1910: Formation of the National Hockey Association (NHA)

In 1910, the National Hockey Association (NHA) was formed. The NHA kept the Stanley Cup for the next four years.

1910: Ottawa Senators did not record names on the cup

In 1910, the Ottawa Senators did not put their names on the Cup.

1911: Ottawa Senators did not record names on the cup

In 1911, the Ottawa Senators did not put their names on the Cup.

1912: Stanley Cup Defense Limited to End of Season

In 1912, the Stanley Cup trustees declared that the Cup was to be defended only at the end of the champion team's regular season, changing the previous practice of challenges at any time.

1914: Stanley Cup for Best Team in the World

After the Portland Rosebuds joined the PCHA in 1914, the Stanley Cup trustees formally declared that the Cup was no longer just for the best team in Canada but for the best team in the world.

1914: Winners determined by Challenge Games and League Play

From 1893 to 1914, the Stanley Cup winners were determined by a combination of challenge games and league play.

1914: Victoria Aristocrats Challenge Controversy

In 1914, a controversy arose when the Stanley Cup trustees initially refused to let the Stanley Cup travel west for the Victoria Aristocrats' challenge due to a misunderstanding about formal notification. However, the issue was resolved, and the challenge was accepted.

1914: Combined Stanley Cup Wins

Since the 1914–15 season, the Stanley Cup has been won a combined total of 106 times by 21 current NHL teams and 5 teams that no longer exist.

1915: NHA and PCHA Champions Face Off for Stanley Cup

In 1915, after the Maritime league folded, the NHA and the PCHA concluded a gentlemen's agreement in which their respective champions would face each other for the Stanley Cup.

1915: NHA and PCHA Agreement

In 1915, the National Hockey Association (NHA) and the Pacific Coast Hockey Association (PCHA) agreed that their champions would annually compete for the Stanley Cup, establishing a formal championship series.

1915: 1915 Ottawa Senators engraved their names on the trophy

In 1915, the Ottawa Senators engraved their names on the trophy even though they did not officially win it under the new PCHA-NHA system. They had won the title of only the previous champion's league and would have been crowned as Cup champions under the old challenge rules.

1915: Vancouver Millionaires Engrave Players' Names

In 1915, the Vancouver Millionaires became the second team to engrave players' names, this time inside the bowl along its sides.

1916: 1916 Portland Rosebuds engraved their names on the trophy

In 1916, the Portland Rosebuds engraved their names on the trophy even though they did not officially win it under the new PCHA-NHA system. They had won the title of only the previous champion's league and would have been crowned as Cup champions under the old challenge rules.

1917: Seattle Metropolitans Win Stanley Cup

In 1917, the Seattle Metropolitans became the first American-based team to win the Stanley Cup.

1918: 1918–19 no decision between the Montreal Canadiens and Seattle Metropolitans included

In 1918, the 1918–19 no decision between the Montreal Canadiens and Seattle Metropolitans was also included.

1918: 1918 Millionaires filled the band

In 1918, the Millionaires eventually filled the band added by the 1909 Senators.

1919: Flu Pandemic Cancels Stanley Cup

In 1919, the Stanley Cup champion was not crowned because of the flu pandemic.

1919: Stanley Cup not Awarded due to Spanish Flu

In 1919, the Stanley Cup was not awarded due to the Spanish flu epidemic, marking the first time it was not presented.

1919: 1919 Stanley Cup Final Cancelled Due to Spanish Flu

The 1919 Stanley Cup Final between the Montreal Canadiens and the Seattle Metropolitans was cancelled after game five due to the Spanish influenza epidemic, resulting in the Stanley Cup not being awarded for the first time. Montreal player Joe Hall died four days later.

1920: Winners did not put their winning team name on it

In 1920, the winning team did not put their winning team name on the Stanley Cup.

1920: NFL calls league champions world champions

The National Football League (NFL) began calling its league champions the world champions from its start in 1920.

1922: Stanley Cup Final Format Change

In 1922, the Stanley Cup Final format changed with the creation of the Western Canada Hockey League (WCHL). Three leagues competed for the Cup: two league champions faced each other for the right to challenge the third champion in the final series.

1923: Winners did not put their winning team name on it

In 1923, the winning team did not put their winning team name on the Stanley Cup.

1924: Canadiens Add New Band to Cup

In 1924, the Canadiens added a new band to the Stanley Cup. Since then, engraving the team and its players has been an unbroken annual tradition.

1924: Victoria Cougars Win Cup

In 1924-25 the Victoria Cougars won the Cup, the last team outside the NHL to do so.

1924: Engraving Names on Stanley Cup

Since 1924, a select portion of the winning players, coaches, management, and club staff names are engraved on the Stanley Cup's bands every year.

1925: Victoria Cougars Win Cup

In 1924-25 the Victoria Cougars won the Cup, the last team outside the NHL to do so.

1926: Stanley Cup becomes de facto NHL Championship Trophy

In 1926, the Stanley Cup was established as the de facto championship trophy of the National Hockey League (NHL), solidifying its status within the league.

1926: WHL Folds, NHL Expands to U.S.

In 1926, the WHL folded and the NHL expanded into the United States, stocking new U.S. teams with WHL players. The Chicago Blackhawks, Detroit Cougars (now Detroit Red Wings), and New York Rangers joined the NHL.

1932: First Time Stanley Cup Awarded On-Ice (Possibly)

The first time that the Stanley Cup was awarded on the ice may have been to the 1932 Toronto Maple Leafs, but the practice did not become a tradition until the 1950s.

1940: Stovepipe Cup Nickname

Between 1924 and 1940, a new band was added to the Stanley Cup almost every year, leading to the nickname "Stovepipe Cup" due to its increasing height.

1940: Retiring of the band listing the 1940–41 champions

In 2005, the band listing the 1940–41 champions to 1952-53 champions was retired

1946: NBA asserts its league champions world champions

The National Basketball Association (NBA) asserted upon its founding in 1946 its league champions world champions

1947: 1947 Agreement with the NHL

In 1947, an agreement was signed with the NHL.

1947: NHL Gains Control of the Stanley Cup

In 1947, the NHL reached an agreement with trustee J. Cooper Smeaton to grant control of the Stanley Cup to the NHL, allowing the league to reject challenges from other leagues.

1947: Trustees cede control to NHL

In 1947, the Stanley Cup trustees ceded control to the NHL.

1947: Stanley Cup becomes de jure NHL Championship Prize

In 1947, the Stanley Cup was officially recognized as the de jure championship prize of the NHL, formalizing its role as the league's top trophy.

1947: Reduced Stanley Cup Size

In 1947, the size of the Stanley Cup was reduced, although the large rings were not all the same size.

1948: Stanley Cup Redesigned

In 1948, the Stanley Cup was redesigned as a two-piece cigar-shaped trophy with a removable bowl and collar due to the "Stovepipe Cup" becoming unwieldy. This also properly honored those teams that did not engrave their names on the Cup.

1950: Tradition of Hoisting Stanley Cup Started

In 1950, Ted Lindsay of the 1950 Cup champion Detroit Red Wings became the first captain, upon receiving the Stanley Cup, to hoist it overhead and skate around the rink. This has since become a tradition.

1952: Retiring of the band listing the 1952-53 champions

In 2005, the band listing the 1940–41 champions to 1952-53 champions was retired

1953: Start of band listing winners to be removed

In September 2018, the band listing the 1953–54 winners was removed with a new band for the 2017–18 to 2029–30 champions added to the bottom of the cup.

1954: Marguerite Norris Wins Cup as President of Detroit Red Wings

In 1954, Marguerite Norris won the Stanley Cup as the president of the Detroit Red Wings. She was the first woman to have her name engraved on the Stanley Cup.

1955: Marguerite Norris Wins Cup as President of Detroit Red Wings

In 1955, Marguerite Norris won the Stanley Cup as the president of the Detroit Red Wings.

1958: Modern One-Piece Cup Design Introduced

In 1958, the modern one-piece Stanley Cup design was introduced, replacing the old barrel with a five-band barrel, each of which could contain 13 winning teams.

1958: Modern One-Piece Stanley Cup Design

In 1958, the modern one-piece Stanley Cup was designed with a five-band barrel that could contain 13 winning teams per band.

November 22, 1961: Amendment to Stanley Cup Agreement

On November 22, 1961, the Stanley Cup agreement was amended, replacing the Governors of the International Hockey Hall of Fame with the Committee of the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto as the group to appoint Canadian trustees if necessary.

1963: Creation of the Presentation Cup

In 1963, NHL president Clarence Campbell commissioned Montreal silversmith Carl Petersen to secretly create the "Presentation Cup," a duplicate Stanley Cup, due to concerns about the original bowl's fragility.

1963: Original Collar of the Cup Replaced

In 1963, the original collar of the Stanley Cup was deemed too brittle and was replaced.

1964: Presentation Cup first awarded

In 1964, the Presentation Cup was first awarded to the Stanley Cup champions.

1964: End of band listing winners to be removed

In September 2018, the band listing the 1953–54 to 1964–65 winners was removed with a new band for the 2017–18 to 2029–30 champions added to the bottom of the cup.

1965: Montreal Canadiens Engraving Irregularity

In 1965, the names of the Montreal Canadiens were engraved over a larger area than allotted, resulting in only 12 teams on that band instead of 13.

1965: End of band listing winners to be removed

In September 2018, the band listing the 1953–54 to 1964–65 winners was removed with a new band for the 2017–18 to 2029–30 champions added to the bottom of the cup.

1969: Original Bowl of the Cup Replaced

In 1969, the original bowl of the Stanley Cup was deemed too brittle and was replaced.

1970: Original Stanley Cup retired from awarding

In 1970, the original 1892 Dominion Hockey Challenge Cup was retired from being physically awarded to the Champions.

1980: Fans urge the Canadiens to draft Denis Savard

In 1993 after the Montreal Canadiens defeated the Los Angeles Kings, Guy Carbonneau handed the Stanley Cup to Denis Savard, as Savard had been the player that many fans had urged the Canadiens to draft back in 1980.

1987: Wayne Gretzky Hands Cup to Steve Smith

In 1987, after the Edmonton Oilers defeated the Philadelphia Flyers, Wayne Gretzky handed the Stanley Cup to Steve Smith, a year after Smith made a costly gaffe that cost the Oilers the chance of making their fourth consecutive Stanley Cup Final appearance.

1988: Louise St. Jacques Becomes Stanley Cup Engraver

In 1988, Louise St. Jacques, a Montreal silversmith, became the fourth and current official Stanley Cup engraver, holding the position ever since.

1989: Sonia Scurfield Wins Cup as Co-Owner of Calgary Flames

In 1989, Sonia Scurfield won the Stanley Cup as a co-owner of the Calgary Flames. She is the only Canadian woman to have her name engraved on the Stanley Cup.

1991: Bands Filled and New Band Added

In 1991, the Stanley Cup bands were all filled. The top band of the large barrel was preserved in the Hockey Hall of Fame, and a new blank band was added to the bottom to prevent the Cup from growing further.

1992: Bands Designed to Fill Up During Cup's Centennial Year

In 1992, the Stanley Cup bands were originally designed to fill up during the Cup's centennial year. However, the names of the 1965 Montreal Canadiens were engraved over a larger area than allotted, leading to only 12 teams on that band instead of 13.

1993: Permanent Cup creation

In 1993, Montreal silversmith Louise St. Jacques created the replica "Permanent Cup" to be used as a stand-in at the Hockey Hall of Fame whenever the Presentation Cup is unavailable.

1993: Guy Carbonneau Hands Cup to Denis Savard

In 1993, after the Montreal Canadiens defeated the Los Angeles Kings, Guy Carbonneau handed the Stanley Cup to Denis Savard, as Savard had been the player that many fans had urged the Canadiens to draft back in 1980.

1993: Creation of the "Permanent Cup"

In 1993, the "Permanent Cup" version of the Stanley Cup was created for display at the Hall of Fame.

1993: Montreal Canadiens Last Canadian Team to Win

In 1993, the Montreal Canadiens became the most recent Canadian-based team to win the Stanley Cup.

1994: Eddie Olczyk and the Stanley Cup

After the New York Rangers' 1994 Stanley Cup win, Eddie Olczyk brought the Stanley Cup to the Belmont Stakes, where Kentucky Derby winner Go for Gin ate out of it.

1994: Teams Permitted to Petition for Player Engraving

Since 1994, teams have been permitted to petition the NHL Commissioner on a case-by-case basis to engrave a player's name on the Stanley Cup if the player was unavailable to play due to "extenuating circumstances".

1995: New Jersey Devils Stanley Cup tradition begins

In 1995, the New Jersey Devils started a tradition of allowing each member of the Stanley Cup-winning team to retain the Cup for a day. Following the 1994–95 season, the NHL mandated that an official Cup handler must be present when the Cup is with players during the off-season.

June 13, 1997: Car Accident

On June 13, 1997, Vladimir Konstantinov was involved in a car accident.

1998: Vladimir Konstantinov's Name Engraved on Stanley Cup

In 1998, the Detroit Red Wings received special permission from the NHL to inscribe the name of Vladimir Konstantinov, whose career ended after a car accident on June 13, 1997, on the Stanley Cup after Detroit defended their title.

March 6, 2000: Ray Bourque traded to the Avalanche

On March 6, 2000, Ray Bourque had played only for the Boston Bruins until being traded to the Avalanche.

August 22, 2001: Stanley Cup at Mount Elbert Summit

On August 22, 2001, Colorado Avalanche Director of Finance Mark Waggoner carried the Stanley Cup to the summit of Mount Elbert, which is the highest point in Colorado.

2001: Charlotte Grahame's Name Engraved on Stanley Cup

In 2001, Charlotte Grahame, the Colorado Avalanche's Senior Director of Hockey Administration, had her name engraved on the trophy.

2001: Joe Sakic Hands Cup to Ray Bourque

In 2001, when the Colorado Avalanche won the Cup, Joe Sakic handed the Stanley Cup to Ray Bourque, whose 22-year NHL career had never included a Stanley Cup victory until then. Sakic then became the second player on the team to hoist the trophy.

2002: Popular Use of Triple Gold Club Term

Following the 2002 Winter Olympics, the term "Triple Gold Club" entered popular use, coinciding with the addition of the first Canadian members.

2004: John Grahame's Name Engraved on Stanley Cup

In 2004, John Grahame had his name engraved on the Stanley Cup as a member of the Tampa Bay Lightning. He is the son of Charlotte Grahame, whose name was engraved on the trophy in 2001.

2004: NHL Lockout Begins

In 2004, a labor dispute between the NHL owners and the NHL Players Association led to the cancellation of the 2004-05 season.

2004: Another new band was scheduled to be added to the bottom of the cup

In 2004, another new band was scheduled to be added to the bottom of the cup following the 2004–05 season, but was not added because of the 2004–05 NHL lockout.

2004: NHL Lockout Impact on Stanley Cup

In 2004, the NHL lockout commenced, leading to the Stanley Cup going unclaimed for the 2004-05 season.

2004: Stanley Cup displayed at MacDill Air Force Base

In 2004, the Stanley Cup was displayed at MacDill Air Force Base near Tampa, Florida, as a morale booster for troops.

2005: NHL Lockout and Stanley Cup Cancellation

In 2005, a labor dispute between the NHL owners and the NHL Players Association led to the cancellation of the 2004-05 season, resulting in no Stanley Cup champion for the first time since 1919. This led to controversy and proposals for alternative uses of the Cup.

2005: NHL Lockout Acknowledged on the Cup

In 2005, after the 2005–06 champion Carolina Hurricanes were crowned and the new bottom ring was finally added, the cancelled season was acknowledged with the words "2004–05 season not played".

2005: Stanley Cup not Awarded due to NHL Lockout

In 2005, the Stanley Cup was not awarded because of the 2004–05 NHL lockout.

2005: Stanley Cup Went Unclaimed

In 2005, the Stanley Cup went unclaimed for the 2004-05 season.

February 7, 2006: Settlement Reached Regarding Stanley Cup Eligibility

On February 7, 2006, a settlement was reached stipulating that the Stanley Cup could be awarded to non-NHL teams if the NHL did not operate for a season. However, by the time the settlement was reached, the NHL had resumed operations.

2006: Stanley Cup visits Camp Lejeune

In 2006, the Stanley Cup toured Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune in North Carolina, where wounded Marines had the opportunity to view and be photographed with the Cup.

2007: IIHF Formalizes Triple Gold Club

In 2007, the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) formalized the "Triple Gold Club," recognizing players and coaches who have won an Olympic Games gold medal, a World Championship gold medal, and the Stanley Cup.

2007: Stanley Cup's first trip into a combat zone

In 2007, the Stanley Cup made its first trip into a combat zone in Kandahar, Afghanistan, from May 2 to 6, for Canadian and other NATO troops.

March 2008: Stanley Cup returned to Afghanistan

In March 2008, the Stanley Cup was returned to Afghanistan as part of a "Team Canada visit."

2008: Detroit Red Wings Win Stanley Cup

In 2008, the Detroit Red Wings won the Stanley Cup, marking their 11th victory and the most for any United States-based NHL team.

June 27, 2010: Stanley Cup at Chicago Gay Pride Parade

On June 27, 2010, Chicago Blackhawks defenceman Brent Sopel brought the Stanley Cup to the 2010 Chicago Gay Pride Parade in tribute to Brian Burke and his late son, Brendan.

2010: Stanley Cup's fourth trip to Afghanistan

In the spring of 2010, the Stanley Cup made its fourth trip to Afghanistan, accompanied by ex-players.

2012: NHL Lockout Commences Again

In 2012, another NHL lockout commenced. Trustees stated that the 2006 agreement did not oblige them to award the Cup in the event of a lost season, and that they were likely to reject any non-NHL challenges for the Cup in the event the 2012–13 season were cancelled, which it was not.

March 2017: Stanley Cup's 125th Anniversary Commemoration

In March 2017, the original and current Stanley Cups were showcased in Ottawa as part of a four-day tour for its 125th anniversary. The Royal Canadian Mint also produced two commemorative coins to mark the anniversary.

October 2017: Lord Stanley's Gift Monument Erected in Ottawa

In October 2017, the Lord Stanley's Gift Monument, commemorating the donation of the Stanley Cup, was erected in Ottawa at Sparks Street and Elgin Street, near the location of the dinner party announcing the Cup at the Russell House.

2017: Names Engraved on Stanley Cup

By 2017, more than 3,000 different names, including the names of over 1,300 players, had been engraved on the Stanley Cup.

2017: Stanley Cup at 125th Anniversary

By its 125th anniversary in 2017, the Stanley Cup stood at 89.5 centimeters tall, weighed 15.5 kilograms, and had 3,177 names engraved on it, with 1,331 belonging to players.

2017: Crowning of 2017–18 Champions

Following the crowning of the 2017–18 champions, the Washington Capitals, the band listing the 1953–54 to 1964–65 winners was removed in September 2018.

September 2018: Removal of band listing 1953-54 to 1964-65 winners

In September 2018, the band listing the 1953–54 to 1964–65 winners was removed with a new band for the 2017–18 to 2029–30 champions added to the bottom of the cup.

2018: Stanley Cup used to improve spirits

In 2018, the Stanley Cup was used to improve the spirits of those affected by the Humboldt Broncos' bus crash on April 6 and the Capital Gazette shooting on June 28. It was brought to hospital survivors on April 15 and to Capital Gazette employees on July 3.

2023: First trustee retirement

In 2023, Ian "Scotty" Morrison became the first Stanley Cup trustee to retire.

2024: Florida Panthers Win Stanley Cup

In 2024, the Florida Panthers won the Stanley Cup, marking their first victory in franchise history.

2025: Florida Panthers Win Stanley Cup

In 2025, the Florida Panthers won the Stanley Cup for the second time in a row.

2025: Stanley Cup Cost in 2025 Dollars

In 2025, the cost of the Stanley Cup that Stanley purchased in Sheffield, England, would be equal to $1,744 in 2025 dollars.

2029: New band for the 2017–18 to 2029–30 champions

In September 2018, the band listing the 1953–54 to 1964–65 winners was removed with a new band for the 2017–18 to 2029–30 champions added to the bottom of the cup.