By Matthew Trana Copyright 2000
 

NHL teams

Although many are aware of the Stanley Cup's rich tradition, few are familiar with its origin. Sure it predates the famous Davis Cup trophy of tennis by seven years, but where did it all begin? Before a team is bestowed this year with hockey's highest honor, it is every fan's duty to understand the history behind the Stanley Cup.

It all started in the late 19th century when Lord Kilcoursie, a player on the Ottawa Rebels hockey club, informed Lord Stanley of Preston, later the Earl of Derby, who was then the Governor--General of Canada, that Canada's numerous hockey teams were playing simply for fun. Lord Stanley, intrigued by one of his highest staff members, quickly became a hockey enthusiast.

Wishing to contribute to the great winter sport, Lord Stanley ordered Lord Kilcoursie to announce the following message at a dinner for the Ottawa Athletic Association on March 18, 1892:
"I have for some time been thinking that it would be a good thing if there were a challenge cup which should be held from year to year by the champion hockey team in the Dominion (of Canada)."
He continued:
"There does not appear to be any such outward sign of a championship at present, and considering the general interest which matches now elicit, and the importance of having the game played fairly and under rules generally recognized, I am willing to give a cup which shall be held from year to year by the winning team."

The statement was simple enough and shortly thereafter, Lord Stanley purchased a cup measuring 7.5 inches high by 11.5 inches across for the sum of 10 guineas (approximately $50.) He then appointed two Ottawa men, Sheriff John Sweetland and Philip D. Ross, as trustees of the cup and devised the following preliminary rules to conduct the annual bout:

• The winners to return the Cup in good order when required by the trustees in order that it may be handed over to any other team which may win it.
• Each winning team to have the club name and year engraved on a silver ring fitted on the Cup.
• The Cup to remain a challenge competition and not the property of any one team, even if won more than once.
• The trustees to maintain absolute authority in all situations or disputes over the winner of the Cup.
• A substitute trustee to be named in the event that one of the existing trustees drops out.

In its infancy, the Stanley Cup experienced a wave of controversy and irony. Lord Stanley had hoped the initial presentation of the Cup would be made to his favorite team in the Canadian capital of Ottawa. The trustees acted against Lord Stanley refusing to grant a team "squatters' rights" to the first Cup. It was soon decided that a championship game between Ottawa and Toronto would determine the winner. Upset the game would be held in Toronto, the Ottawa club refused to participate, ultimately resigning from the Ontario Hockey Association in protest. A full year went by until the trustees made the following statement: "Arrangements have been completed whereby the Lord Stanley Hockey Cup will now pass into the hands of the Montreal Amateur Athletic Association. Since trouble arose last year about the acceptance, and the Montreal AAA has had it in their possession ever since, the Montreal team will now officially take over."

Thus, the first winner of the Stanley Cup didn't really compete for the right of possession. It did, however, spark the first of many dynasties recorded by the Montreal hockey club.

On March 22, 1894, the first real game for the Stanley Cup was contested between the Montreal AAA and Ottawa. The match was successful with the Montreal AAA winning 3-1. A newspaper report whimsically described the contest as follows: "The hockey championship was decided tonight, and never before in the history of the game was there so large a crowd or so much enthusiasm. There were fully five thousand persons present at the match; and the tin horns, strong lungs and a general rabble predominated. The match resulted in favor of Montreal by three goals to one. The referee forgot to see many things. The ice was fairly good."

Ironically, Lord Stanley never witnessed a championship game nor attended a presentation of his trophy. He left Canada for England in the midst of the 1893 season to tend to family business after his brother passed away. There the seven Stanley brothers, led by Lord Stanley's third son Arthur, introduced hockey to members of the Royal Family unfamiliar with the winter sport. In the first game against the Buckingham Palace team, Lord Stanley's crew scored so frequently it was not thought diplomatic to record the exact number of shots that trickled past the Royal goalie.

More than 100 years later, hockey clubs still clobber each other game-after-game hoping to obtain the majestic Stanley Cup, the proverbial pot of gold at the end of hockey's bruised rainbow. Sixteen post-season wins will earn one lucky team hockey's most prestigious award. Quite impressive for a trophy originally costing $48.67.