The First Stanley Cup

The Montreal Hockey Club of the Amateur Hockey Association of Canada (AHAC) was the first team to officially win the Stanley Cup on March 17, 1893. Donated in 1892 by the Governor General of Canada,  Lord Stanley of Preston, the Stanley Cup was to be awarded to the amateur hockey team that finished their season with the best record. Today's version of the cup features several layers of rings bearing the names of players on the winning teams, topped off by the original bowl, which can be seen in this picture.

The Stanley Cup - Hockey's Holy Grail

The Stanley Cup was fabricated in Sheffield, England in 1892 and presented to hockey the following year by Lord Stanley. At 116 years old, the cup is the oldest trophy competed for in professional sports. Every year, the Stanley Cup Playoff winning team has the names of the players, management, and coaching staff engraved on the cup.

While the original is awarded to the winning team every year, an exact replica is displayed in the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto, Canada. The cup's popularity takes it all over the world, traveling over 250 days a year making numerous appearances and raising money for charity.