Hockey devotee in Las Vegas ( yes , Vegas ! ) are currently losing their nous because theVegas Golden Knightsbeat the Florida Panthers in the Stanley Cup Playoffs series 4 - 1 , becoming just the seventh franchise squad in NHL chronicle to gain ground a backing in six seasons or less .
But most significantly , the Golden Knights took self-control of the prized prize — the Stanley Cup . The Cup , revere by both hockey role player and fans , has a rich , storied and downright quirky history .
The Cup was buy for a mere 10 guineas ( $ 50 at the time ) in 1892 and donate byLord Frederick Arthur Stanley(hence the name ) who was Governor General of Canada from 1888 to 1893 . The first Cup was awarded to the championship ice hockey club of the Dominion ofCanadaleague during the 1892 - 1893 season .
In 1910 , the National Hockey Association took over the Stanley Cup and when the NHL formed in 1926 , the Cup moved to the league . Today the Stanley Cup prize is still theoldest trophythat a professional jock can vie for in North America .
We’re Gonna Need a Bigger Bowl
In 1926 , when the NHL was formed , the prize was just a bowl measuring 7.3 inches ( 8.5 centimeters ) in height , 11.4 inches ( 29 centimeters ) in diameter . But anyone even mistily familiar with sports recognize that the Cup has morphed into somethingmuch biggernow . Today the trophy stand almost 3 feet improbable ( 0.9 m ) and weighs in at nearly 35 pound ( 16 kilograms ) .
It ’s massive because , unlike other sports trophies , the Stanley Cup has the name calling of all the winning playersengraved on iteach season . At first , the names were grave on tiered ring at the bottom of the bowl . afterward , consistent catch or striation were lend to furnish additional space . When they run out of elbow room , the previous rings were retired to make means for the newfangled champions . The original Stanley Cup and retired rings can be viewed in Lord Stanley ’s Vault in the Esso Great Hall at theHockey Hall of Famein Toronto .
The Cup you see outside the Hall of Fame is a replication of the original consisting of a pipe bowl , three tiered bands , a collar and five uniform band . It ’s made of a uncompromising Ag and atomic number 28 metal , which allows it to take a lot of , well , jazz abuse .
To the Winner, Goes the Cup … Literally
The team that wins the Stanley Cup playoff does n’t just get to hoist the Stanley Cup over their heads for a postgame photo op . And they do n’t just get their names etch on the prize for descendants ’s sake .
Someone somewhere decided it was a good idea to allow every participant on the team to take self-possession of the Stanley Cup trophy — for 24 hours .
And since NHL hockey game teams are made up of international players , the Cup has traveled around the domain , visiting hometowns throughout North America , Europe and Russia . ( TheNHL announcedthat the Stanley Cup would not natter Russia or Belarus because of Russia ’s invasion of Ukraine . )
The Cup hasseen it all : the Kentucky Derby , multiple pool political party and parades and it even service as abaptismal font . It also make goodwill visits on behalf of the NHL , always with a Hockey Hall of Fame " minder " in tow .
But the sterling thing a player can do with the cupful is lift it over his caput in triumph after a backup win , somethingWayne Gretzkymanaged to do four times in a five - time of year span between 1984 and 1988 with the Edmonton Oilers .
" If you are prosperous enough to get your name on that Stanley Cup that is what is so unique and it is so difficult to come through a Stanley Cup , " Gretzkytold NHL.com in 2017 . " As you see today , the parity with these 30 team [ there are presently 32 teams ] , it is really hard . So , when you get to airlift it , it ’s really deserving it . "
