Stanley Cup

noun

, Ice Hockey.

1. a trophy emblematic since 1926 of the championship of the National Hockey League, composed of Canadian and U.S. professional teams.
2. the best-of-seven-games series in which the champion of the Prince of Wales Conference and that from the Clarence S. Campbell Conference oppose each other for this trophy.

Stanley Cup

noun

1. (in North America) the trophy presented annually to the champions of the National Hockey League

Word History and Origins

Origin of Stanley Cup¹

Named after Frederick Arthur, Lord Stanley of Preston (1841–1908), governor general of Canada, who donated the trophy for the best amateur team of the 1893–94 season

Word History and Origins

Origin of Stanley Cup¹

C19: named after Lord Stanley (1841–1908), 6th Governor-General of Canada, who first presented it in 1893

Example Sentences

It’s hard to stand out in the same division with the defending Stanley Cup champions … especially when they also happen to be among the favorites to run it back and win again.

From FiveThirtyEight

At the same time, a playoff meeting or — more specifically and dramatically — a Stanley Cup meeting is not out of the question.

From FiveThirtyEight

On the ice, last year’s Stanley Cup winner, the Tampa Bay Lightning, still looks dominant, but there have been some surprises, too.

From FiveThirtyEight

Surprisingly, Vancouver’s Braden Holtby, a former Vezina Trophy winner and Stanley Cup champion with the Washington Capitals, is also at the bottom of the list.

From Washington Post

After the Lightning won last season’s Stanley Cup, they entered the offseason with a little over $5 million to play with and a number of restricted free agents to sign.

From FiveThirtyEight

A debate conflicted with a Boston Bruins Stanley Cup playoff game.

From The Daily Beast

Its team, the Bruins, is the fifth-wealthiest in the NHL and won the Stanley Cup in 2011.

From The Daily Beast

More About Stanley Cup

What is the Stanley Cup?

The Stanley Cup is the trophy presented to the champion of the National Hockey League (NHL) each year.

The NHL playoffs are called the Stanley Cup Playoffs, and the championship series is called the Stanley Cup Finals.

The Stanley Cup trophy is sometimes simply called the Cup. Winning the NHL championship is commonly referred to as winning the Stanley Cup or winning the Cup.

Unlike championship trophies in many other professional sports, a new Stanley Cup trophy is not made each year for the winning team to keep forever. Instead, the names of the players, coach, and some staff members of the winning team are engraved onto part of the trophy, which stays in possession of the team for a year (including, per tradition, one day with each member of the winning team).

The Stanley Cup trophy is known for being large compared to many other professional sports trophies—it’s three feet tall and weighs about 34 pounds (about 15 kg)

When are the Stanley Cup Finals?

The 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs will begin on April 20, 2024. The 2024 Stanley Cup Finals are expected to occur some time in June (depending on the length of earlier playoff rounds).

The Stanley Cup Finals are usually held in late May or June. It is a best-of-seven series and can last up to two weeks.

More information and context on the Stanley Cup

Who is the Stanley Cup named after?

The Stanley Cup is named for Sir Frederick Arthur Stanley, Lord Stanley of Preston, a British politician who served as Canada’s governor general in the 1890s. Lord Stanley purchased the trophy in 1892 to be awarded to the champions of Canadian hockey. The NHL acquired ownership of the cup in 1926. (The word cup is used in the name of other cup-shaped trophies and competitions named after them, including the sailing competition known as America’s Cup).

How many Stanley Cups are there?

The original cup was retired in 1962 to prevent further wear and tear. The newly designed trophy introduced at that time is informally known as the “Presentation” Cup. A replica of this was made in 1993 to be kept at the Hockey Hall of Fame. The bands on the cup that’s presented to champions can be replaced when new space is needed for engraving their names.

What are some terms that often get used in discussing the Stanley Cup?

• trophy
• playoffs
• finals
• NHL
• champion
• hockey

How is the Stanley Cup discussed in real life?

NHL champions are often said to have won the Stanley Cup. The trophy itself is known for being unique in that a new one is not made every year. Instead, it’s engraved with the names of the winners, who famously get to spend a day with it.

This is the Leafs' best chance to win the Stanley cup in my lifetime. #LeafsForever pic.twitter.com/1N5JDT9H1H

— Dylan Earis (@RidersRLife) May 20, 2021

CAN YOU BELIEVE IT?!?!?!! IT’S OVER!!! THE #LAKINGS ARE GOING TO THE STANLEY CUP FINALS!!!

— LA Kings (@LAKings) June 2, 2014

Thanks for all the support. Unbelievable feeling right now. Stanley cup champs!

— Patrick Kane (@88PKane) June 25, 2013

Try using Stanley Cup!

True or False?

The Stanley Cup is named after Lord Stanley of Preston.