Brief History of the Stanley Cup

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

Stanley Cup Aspirations – Cue’ the Duck Boats Pod

The boys are back after a long break but have plenty to talk about as the playoffs are in full swing. We go series by series, looking at how teams have fared so far and who will come out on top. Thanks for listening! Please rate and review our show on your favorite listening platform. Check out our partner's website at www.insidetherink.com for all your latest hockey news.