I.

Introduction

Stanley Cup, team trophy for professional ice hockey, awarded annually to the National Hockey League (NHL) playoff champion. The Stanley Cup is one of the most popular sporting events of the year in Canada, which is home to six NHL franchises and a majority of the NHL’s players.

The Stanley Cup is the oldest championship team trophy in North America. It is named for Lord Stanley of Preston, who represented the British monarch as governor-general in Canada from 1888 to 1893. Lord Stanley purchased the trophy in 1892 for an amateur ice hockey competition. From 1910 to 1926 teams from several Canadian professional leagues and associations, including the NHL, vied for the cup.

In 1927 the trophy became the annual award for NHL champions only. The winning club gains possession of the cup for one year, until the next champion is crowned.