History of the Stanley Cup
In 2008, the Detroit Red Wings won their fourth Stanley Cup since 1997 and their 11th overall. Only two franchises have won more Cups– the Montreal Canadians (24) and the Toronto Maple Leafs (14).
The Stanley Cup is the oldest trophy in professional sports. The history of the Stanley Cup can be traced back to 1892 at a dinner of the Ottawa Amateur Athletic Association. Lord Frederick Stanley, the Governor General of Canada, requested there be a championship among the best hockey teams in Canada with the winner receiving a silver trophy cup. The first cup measured 7 ½ inches high and 11 ½ inches across, and cost $50. The winning team and year would be engraved on the cup, and the team would be able to hold onto the cup for the entire season.
Over the next 50 years, players started etching their names into the cup forcing the league to add more rings under the original bowl. In 1969, the original cup was sent to the NHL Hall of Fame in Toronto because it became too fragile and damaged. The cup we see today is an exact replica of the original bowl purchased by Lord Stanley. The current cup stands 3 feet and weighs about 35 lbs.