Stanley Cup
A professional team (the original OTTAWA SENATORS) first won the cup in 1909 and in 1926 it came under the exclusive control of the NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE. The MONTREAL CANADIENS, with 24 victories as of 1993 (including 5 straight 1956-60), have been by far the most successful team in Stanley Cup history, followed by the TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS with 11 wins.
In the 1980s the New York Islanders and the Edmonton OILERS dominated Stanley Cup play, each winning the cup 4 times. The 1990s saw much more parity in the league. The Oilers added a fifth win; the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Detroit Red Wings each managed back-to-back wins.
The cup was awarded in all but 2 years of its 100-plus year existence. The Spanish Flu, which claimed more than 21 million lives from 1918 to 1919, resulted in cancellation of the Stanley Cup finals although the season had already been played. Early in 2005, the NHL cancelled its entire 2004-2005 season due to its most bitter labour dispute ever between the National Hockey League Player's Association and the NHL team owners over a proposed players' salary cap. Cancellation of the entire season rendered the Stanley Cup finals impossible that year.
The cup itself has had a colourful history. It has been lost, misplaced and stolen (once from its home in the Hockey Hall of Fame and Museum). The original silver bowl is now on permanent display at the HOCKEY HALL OF FAME and a replica sits on top of the existing structure. The names of all the players on winning teams since 1930 are engraved on the base.
See STANLEY CUP CHAMPIONS 1892-1944; STANLEY CUP CHAMPIONS 1944-Present.
Stanley Cup
Originally known as the Dominion Hockey Challenge Cup, the trophy began to be known by its donor's name by the mid-1890s (courtesy Canadian Sports Hall of Fame).
Gretzky, Wayne
Wayne Gretzky holding the Stanley Cup aloft for the Edmonton Oilers, the most exciting team of the 1980s (courtesy Edmonton Journal).
Author JAMES MARSH
Suggested Reading
Dan Diamond, ed, The Official National Hockey League Stanley Cup Centennial Book (1992).
Links to Other Sites
Historica-Dominion Institute
The website for the Historica-Dominion Institute, parent organization of The Canadian Encyclopedia and the Encyclopedia of Music in Canada. Check out their extensive online feature about the War of 1812, the "Heritage Minutes" video collection, and many other interactive resources concerning Canadian history, culture, and heritage.
Stanley Cup
A brief history of professional hockey's top trophy, the Stanley Cup. Click on the links for more detailed information. From the Hockey Hall of Fame and Museum.
Toronto Maple Leafs
The official website for the legendary Toronto Maple Leafs hockey team.
Hockey: A Nation's Passion
Skate through this interactive multimedia website about the history and cultural impact of Canada’s national sport and pastime. From the Virtual Museum of Canada.
Backcheck: A Hockey Retrospective
Trace the development of Canada's national sport in this collection of historic hockey photographs, stories, and documents. See also the link to "Backcheck: Hockey for Kids" at the bottom of the page. From Library and Archives Canada.
sportsnet.ca
Check out the sportsnet.ca website for the latest sports news and videos.
Andrew Podnieks
The website for Andrew Podnieks, the author of more than 50 books on the sport of hockey. Also see the gallery of Dennis Miles photos of hockey players and the bios of members of the "Women's Hall of Fame."
TSN
The TSN website offers live and breaking sports news, score results, standings, schedules, and more.
In an incident reminiscent of Todd Bertuzzi, right down to the last name of the victim, Dawson's Norman Watt smashed his stick over Art Moore's head and knocked him unconscious.
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