I suppose this is going to be one of those blogposts where I
mention how something is made, go over a few specifications, make bad
jokes, and otherwise ramble.
Yes, I am talking about the Stanley Cup. How'd you guess,
mate?
...via Hockey Chump
From facts and materials, to history and misadventures, this
will be CR4's comprehensive guide to athletics' most revered trophy. And, I'll preface this with saying that virtually no science went into the making of this blog post.
What is it?
For the unaware, the Stanley Cup is a chalice awarded to the
winner of the Stanley Cup Playoffs hosted by the National Hockey League each
spring. It is unique amongst championship trophies in the fact that it is
awarded annually (instead of a winner getting a 'keeper' version or duplicate),
and each member of the winning club has his or her name engraved upon it.
...via Perez Solomon
Furthermore, each winning individual gets a 24 hour personal
period with the cup-with which they can do just about anything they want. Last
summer Milan Lucic brought the cup to the top of a mountain.
Clark Gillies used it as a dog food bowl,
while the 1994 Rangers used it as an oat bowl for that year's Kentucky Derby
winner (Go for Gin). It's been kicked into Rideau Canal, left in the bottom of
pools, climbed the Hollywood sign, hitchhiked, and that's not even the grossest parts of its legacy.
...via Stupid Hockey
The cup itself is 34.5 lbs. of nickel-silver alloy. It has a
silver, electroplated coating which is added by the use of an electrical
current which changes the oxidation state of cations in a solution, and coats the
submerged metal with misplaced ions--or something. This is done primarily for
aesthetic purposes, but also adds some durability to the cup, which is
important considering what it goes through, like a rocket attack in Afghanistan
on May 3, 2007. Based on materials alone, the cup is expected to be worth about
$1,100. This version of the Stanley Cup is not the original, though.
Lord Stanley of Preston had moved to Canada from England in
1888, and witnessed his first hockey game the following year. Following the
spectacle, his beard concluded "that it would be a good thing if there were a
challenge cup, which would be held from year to year by the leading hockey club
in the Dominion." He
appropriated $50 (today over $1,200) to purchase a suitable trophy. A silver
punchbowl, sold by G.R. Collis & Co. of 130 Regent Street, London,
inscribed "From Stanley of Preston" and "Dominion Hockey Challenge Cup" onto
the bowl's exterior. It was ready.
The original Stanley Cup...via Newsday
How do you win it?
Originally, it was
awarded to the best team in the league from which the previous champions
hailed. The first winners were the Montreal Hockey Club (not without
controversy) in 1893, which went unchallenged. Teams from other leagues could
present a challenge, provided they won their own league's championship as
well. The first Stanley Cup Final was
March 17, 1894, with Montreal HC defending their championship from Ottawa
Hockey Club, 3-1. By 1927, most leagues were not able to compete with the
fledgling, yet professional-caliber NHL.
When a team won the
original cup, they were allowed to place a silver ring around the cup's base,
listing all team personnel. This tradition continued until 1970, when the
enlarged cup became unwieldy and worn. The only years the Stanley Cup was not
presented were 1919 (flu epidemic) and 2005 (lockout).
You have no idea how much it pains me to depict a Leaf with the Cup...via Wikimedia
A new replica, with sturdier alloy design and bulging lower
rings was first presented to the 1970 Boston Bruins. This version was made by Montreal-based silversmith Carl Petersen, who also did the engraving work on the cup from the late 1940s until his retirement about 40 years later. In fact, the Petersen family is responsible for nearly all work done on the Cup. The original cup is on
display at the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto.
Traditions
The cup has been surrounded by unscientific stigma since its
inception. After winning the cup, it has been customary to drink champagne from
the cup since at least 1896, as well as raise it over your head since 1950.
...via NHL Snipers
Hockey players who could compete for the cup, but have not
won it yet, are not supposed to touch the cup for fear of a jinx. Fans and
amateurs are encouraged to kiss and touch it for luck, but it is considered
hockey blasphemy to raise the cup above your shoulders.
Teams who advance to the cup finals are awarded either the
Prince of Wales Trophy or the Clarence Campbell Bowl, depending upon their
conference alignment. Superstition further predicates that the teams shouldn't
touch theses trophies, since it is not the end-goal for the playoffs. Teams who
did touch the trophies, since 2001, are 4-5. As the below infographic
illustrates, there is no direct correlation between touching your conference
championship trophy and hoisting the Stanley Cup.
...via Delasean @ Photobucket
Fun Facts
-Three versions: Original, Authenticated Replacement,
Display Replica
-Over two dozen engraving typos are found on the cup,
including a redacted name (Basil Pocklington)
-The Montreal Canadiens have won more Stanley Cups than any
other team (24), with a current cup winning percentage of 23%. Montreal legend
Henri Richard has had his name engraved on the cup more than any other player
(11), while fellow Habs forward Jean Beliveau has his name on the cup more than
any other individual (17).
-In 2006, the cup again became eligible to be awarded to a
team outside of the NHL in the event of another work stoppage. This was
accomplished by the means of a lawsuit, which argued the cup belonged to
Canadian hockey and not the NHL.
-Two full-time trustees serve as cup guardians, who
practically live with the cup. The individuals alternate, and also accompany
the cup on the 80,000 miles of travel the cup averages each year.
-The Seattle Metropolitans were the first American team to
win the cup. The Victoria Cougars were the last non-professional team to raise
Lord Stanley's mug.
-The Cup has
been a
guest of honor for the past five American presidents, but has not been an
official guest of a Canadian prime minister since 1993.
-During an NHL sponsored rock show, Def Leppard frontman Joe
Elliot positioned the cup upside down, resting on the bowl. Many players and
fans felt Elliot tarnished the cup on purpose, though he later explained he was
unaware which side was the cup's base.
Resources
Wikipedia - The Stanley Cup; Traditions and anecdotes associated w/ the Stanley Cup
NHL - Conference trophies: to touch, or not to touch?
ABC News - Strange Misadventures of the Stanley Cup
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