The Stanley Cup is perhaps the most iconic trophy in all of sports, a symbol of excellence and victory that is revered by athletes and fans alike. Named after Lord Stanley of Preston, the Governor General of Canada in 1892, the Cup has a long and storied history that dates back over a century.
The original Stanley Cup was purchased by Lord Stanley for 10 guineas, or roughly $50 at the time, and was first awarded to the Montreal Canadiens in 1893. At the time, the Cup was only open to teams in Canada, as professional hockey had not yet taken hold in the United States.
Over the years, the Stanley Cup has undergone numerous changes and modifications. In the early days, the Cup was made of pure silver and featured a simple design. However, as the popularity of hockey grew, so too did the prestige of the Stanley Cup, and the trophy became more ornate and elaborate.
One of the most significant changes to the Cup came in 1926, when it was first engraved with the names of the winning teams. Previously, teams would simply be given a silver band to wear around the base of the Cup, but this new tradition ensured that the names of every winning team would be immortalized on the trophy.
The Stanley Cup has also been the center of some memorable moments in sports history. Perhaps the most famous occurred in 1972, when the Soviet Union’s national team faced off against Canada in a series of games that would become known as the Summit Series. The Canadians emerged victorious, winning the final game by a score of 6-5, and the Stanley Cup was brought out onto the ice to celebrate the historic moment.
In addition to its role as a symbol of victory, the Stanley Cup has also become a cultural icon in its own right. In the early days of hockey, winning the Cup was seen as a source of national pride, and the trophy was often paraded through the streets of the winning team’s hometown as a sign of their achievement. Today, the Cup remains a symbol of excellence and a source of inspiration for athletes around the world.
Despite its long and storied history, the Stanley Cup has not been without controversy. In 1919, the Cup Finals were cancelled due to an outbreak of Spanish flu, and the Cup was not awarded that year. In 2005, a lockout forced the cancellation of the entire NHL season, making it the first time in 87 years that the Cup was not awarded.
Despite these setbacks, the Stanley Cup remains one of the most iconic and beloved trophies in all of sports. From its humble beginnings as a simple silver cup, to its current status as a symbol of excellence and victory, the Cup has become an integral part of hockey culture, and a testament to the power of athletic achievement.
- 1893 – Montreal Canadiens
- 1894 – Montreal AAA
- 1895 – Montreal Victorias
- 1896 – Winnipeg Victorias
- 1897 – Montreal Victorias
- 1898 – Montreal Victorias
- 1899 – Montreal Shamrocks
- 1900 – Montreal Shamrocks
- 1901 – Winnipeg Victorias
- 1902 – Montreal HC
- 1903 – Ottawa Senators
- 1904 – Ottawa Senators
- 1905 – Ottawa Senators
- 1906 – Montreal Wanderers
- 1907 – Kenora Thistles
- 1908 – Montreal Wanderers
- 1909 – Ottawa Senators
- 1910 – Montreal Wanderers
- 1911 – Ottawa Senators
- 1912 – Quebec Bulldogs
- 1913 – Quebec Bulldogs
- 1914 – Toronto Blueshirts
- 1915 – Vancouver Millionaires
- 1916 – Montreal Canadiens
- 1917 – Seattle Metropolitans
- 1918 – Toronto Arenas
- 1919 – No winner due to the flu pandemic
- 1920 – Ottawa Senators
- 1921 – Ottawa Senators
- 1922 – Toronto St. Patricks
- 1923 – Ottawa Senators
- 1924 – Montreal Canadiens
- 1925 – Victoria Cougars
- 1926 – Montreal Maroons
- 1927 – Ottawa Senators
- 1928 – New York Rangers
- 1929 – Boston Bruins
- 1930 – Montreal Canadiens
- 1931 – Montreal Canadiens
- 1932 – Toronto Maple Leafs
- 1933 – New York Rangers
- 1934 – Chicago Blackhawks
- 1935 – Montreal Canadiens
- 1936 – Detroit Red Wings
- 1937 – Detroit Red Wings
- 1938 – Chicago Blackhawks
- 1939 – Boston Bruins
- 1940 – New York Rangers
- 1941 – Boston Bruins
- 1942 – Toronto Maple Leafs
- 1943 – Detroit Red Wings
- 1944 – Montreal Canadiens
- 1945 – Toronto Maple Leafs
- 1946 – Montreal Canadiens
- 1947 – Toronto Maple Leafs
- 1948 – Toronto Maple Leafs
- 1949 – Toronto Maple Leafs
- 1950 – Detroit Red Wings
- 1951 – Toronto Maple Leafs
- 1952 – Detroit Red Wings
- 1953 – Montreal Canadiens
- 1954 – Detroit Red Wings
- 1955 – Detroit Red Wings
- 1956 – Montreal Canadiens
- 1957 – Montreal Canadiens
- 1958 – Montreal Canadiens
- 1959 – Montreal Canadiens
- 1960 – Montreal Canadiens
- 1961 – Chicago Blackhawks
- 1962 – Toronto Maple Leafs
- 1963 – Toronto Maple Leafs
- 1964 – Toronto Maple Leafs
- 1965 – Montreal Canadiens
- 1966 – Montreal Canadiens
- 1967 – Toronto Maple Leafs
- 1968 – Montreal Canadiens
- 1969 – Montreal Canadiens
- 1970 – Boston Bruins
- 1971 – Montreal Canadiens
- 1972 – Boston Bruins
- 1973 – Montreal Canadiens
- 1974 – Philadelphia Flyers
- 1975 – Philadelphia Flyers
- 1976 – Montreal Canadiens
- 1977 – Montreal Canadiens
- 1978 – Montreal Canadiens
- 1979 – Montreal Canadiens
- 1980 – New York Islanders
- 1981 – New York Islanders
- 1982 – New York Islanders
- 1983 – New York Islanders
- 1984 – Edmonton Oilers
- 1985 – Edmonton Oilers
- 1986 – Montreal Canadiens
- 1987 – Edmonton Oilers
- 1988 – Edmonton Oilers
- 1989 – Calgary Flames
- 1990 – Edmonton Oilers
- 1991 – Pittsburgh Penguins
- 1992 – Pittsburgh Penguins
- 1993 – Montreal Canadiens
- 1994 – New York Rangers
- 1995 – New Jersey Devils
- 1996 – Colorado Avalanche
- 1997 – Detroit Red Wings
- 1998 – Detroit Red Wings
- 1999 – Dallas Stars
- 2000 – New Jersey Devils
- 2001 – Colorado Avalanche
- 2002 – Detroit Red Wings
- 2003 – New Jersey Devils
- 2004 – Tampa Bay Lightning
- 2005 – No winner due to the NHL lockout
- 2006 – Carolina Hurricanes
- 2007 – Anaheim Ducks
- 2008 – Detroit Red Wings
- 2009 – Pittsburgh Penguins
- 2010 – Chicago Blackhawks
- 2011 – Boston Bruins
- 2012 – Los Angeles Kings
- 2013 – Chicago Blackhawks
- 2014 – Los Angeles Kings
- 2015 – Chicago Blackhawks
- 2016 – Pittsburgh Penguins
- 2017 – Pittsburgh Penguins
- 2018 – Washington Capitals
- 2019 – St. Louis Blues
- 2020 – Tampa Bay Lightning
- 2021 – Tampa Bay Lightning
- 2022 – Colorado Avalanche
