The Stanley Cup

The Stanley Cup (in French called La Coupe Stanley) is an ice hockey club trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League (NHL) playoffs champion. It has been referred to as The Cup, The Holy Grail, or facetiously (chiefly by sportswriters) as Lord Stanley’s Mug.

The Stanley Cup is surrounded by numerous legends and traditions, the oldest of which is the celebratory drinking of champagne out of the cup by the winning team. Unlike the trophies awarded by the other three major professional sports leagues of North America, a new Stanley Cup is not made each year; Cup winners keep it until a new champion is crowned. It is unusual among trophies, in that it has the name of the winning players, coaches, management, and club staff engraved on its chalice. The original bowl was made of silver and has a dimension of 18.5 centimeters (7.28 inches) in height and 29 centimeters (11.42 inches) in diameter. The current Stanley Cup, topped with a copy of the original bowl, is made of silver and nickel alloy. Today, it has a height of 89.54 centimeters (35.25 inches) and weighs 15.5 kilograms (34.5 lb).

Russia second straight World Championship

Two mistakes was all it took for Russia to seal the deal and win the gold for the second year in a row against its arch rivals. Russia took advantage of Canadian errors and defeated Canada 2-1. In the photo to the left you can see the Russian hockey team proudly photoed with there championship cup trophy.

The tournament MVP was Ilya Kovalchuk. He was put to work all night long by coach Vyacheslav Bykov, and by the end of the night the superstar MVP had played more than half of the game. Ilya Kovalchuk played 30:33 minutes of the game, to be exact.

With less than two minutes to play, Canada had a great chance to score when Denis Grebeshkov turned the puck over in the Canadian end. The Maple Leaf squad turned the puck back up ice to Shane Doan, but he couldn’t control the puck or he would have had a breakaway.

What Canada failed to do last year in the third period Russia did masterfully today, thanks to some great goaltending by Bryzgalov, the player of the game for Russia, who stopped 37 of 38 shots. Roloson, meanwhile, made several great saves but faced only 17 shots on the night.

Kolzig retires after 14 NHL seasons

Olaf Kolzig

After 14 seasons, veteran goaltender Olaf Kolzig announced his retirement today from the National Hockey League. Kolzig, 39, a two-time NHL All-Star, former Vezina Trophy winner and received the King Clancy Memorial Trophy appeared in a total of 719 NHL games, 711 of those with the Washington Capitals. His 303 career wins rank him 21st all-time among goaltending wins leaders. Olaf also posted a career 2.71 GAA along with a .906 save percentage and 35 shutouts.

Reported by The NHL on Sept 23, 2009

Game 7 Showdown in Motown

News from the race for the Stanley Cup

Champaign Cup

Game 7 Showdown in Motown:
The Pens Force a Game 7 Battle with the Wings

After a disappointing performance in Game 5 the Penguins brought it on to win Game 6 last night and forced the series into a Game 7 showdown. While the Pens are the underdogs no doubt, the young team is growing up before our eyes and charging a heated battle against the defending champs. The Wings will have the hometown advantage, playing the final hockey game at Joe Louis Arena – where it all comes down to seasoned champs vs. hungry young blood this Friday night… when we will see who inherits the prized hockey trophy that is The Stanley Cup.

Hockey trophy traditions

News from the NHL

Hockey trophy traditions…

In the long journey to claim the ultimate hockey trophy, The Stanley Cup (aka Lord Stanley’s Mug, among others), many regular season games must be won, and playoff games and conference games.  And as the triumphant teams advance to the finals they are presented with the conference trophies. And so what do these jubilant players usually do when they are presented with those hockey trophies? Well, they make sure they don’t touch the thing!

Yep, all sports have their superstitions. In the NHL its all about “look but don’t touch”; as the common lore has it that the only hockey trophy worth touching is THE hockey trophy. Once you’ve won The Cup, go ahead and touch all you want – but until then, keep your hands to yourself!

So when Penguins captain Sidney Crosby grabbed a firm hold of the Prince of Wales trophy (grinning for photographers) it was a total taboo to most people. For Crosby it was just the opposite. Last year the Penquins didn’t touch it, and they lost to the Red Wings regardless, so what good did being superstitious do? Nothing in his book, so he just went for the grab and enjoyed the moment with his team players that did the same. Take that!

Mountain sculpture hockey trophies: the peak of perfection

Trophy news from Crown Awards

Hockey Trophies

Mountain sculpture hockey trophies: the peak of perfection

For an award as monumental as the winning goal, choose the mountain sculpture hockey trophy from Crown Awards. Featuring an antique finished figurine which is  embedded on a beveled-cut polished resin marble, the trophy itself is a testament to the great heights that athletes go to fortify victory.

NHL Calder Trophy Finalists Named

Trophy news from the NHL

Hockey Trophies

NHL Calder Trophy Finalists Named

In the NHL the conclusion of the regular season brings with it more than the battle for the Stanley Cup. It also ushers in the awards season, with trophies going to the “best of” NHL athletes and coaches. This past Wednesday the League announced the three finalists for the 2008-09 Calder Memorial Trophy; awarded “to the player selected as the most proficient in his first year of competition”. The prestigious hockey trophy will go to either Steve Mason, Columbus Blue Jackets; Bobby Ryan, Anaheim Ducks; or Kris Versteeg, Chicago Blackhawks.

From now through May 4th the NHL will announce the names of the three  finalists for each of its major hockey trophies and awards:
James Norris Memorial Trophy (top defenseman), Lady Byng Memorial Trophy (skill/sportsmanship), Vezina Trophy (top goaltender), Frank J. Selke Trophy (top defensive forward), Hart Memorial Trophy (MVP), Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy (perseverance and dedication to hockey), Jack Adams Award (Coach of the Year), and the NHL Foundation Player Award (contributions to charitable causes).

Rangers clinch a playoff spot and hopefully the ultimate hockey trophy

Trophy news from New York

hockey trophies

Rangers clinch a playoff spot and
hopefully the ultimate hockey trophy

New York defeated Philadelphia last night to gain a playoff spot in the showdown for the most acclaimed of hockey trophies; the Stanley Cup. “The first thing is to get in the playoffs”, said coach John Tortorella. Mission accomplished – with their 2-1 win over the Flyers the Rangers’ path towards their victory trophy is upon them. The Stanley Cup tournament begins next week and the Blueshirts are back to battle it out. Bring the trophy back to New York boys!

Malkin, Penguins skate way past Stars

Trophy news from the Pittsburgh  Tribune-Review…

Malkin, Penguins skate way past Stars

hockey trophies

If recent history repeats itself and the current NHL standings hold, the league will crown a new MVP in June — Penguins center Evgeni Malkin.

“As my good friend, I hope he wins it, but it’s too early to say,” defenseman Sergei Gonchar said Sunday of Malkin, who scored his team-leading 29th goal and padded his league-best total to 92 with two assists in the Penguins’ 4-1 victory against the Dallas Stars at American Airlines Center.

“Hopefully he does. He’s become a big star.”

Malkin is trying to become the fourth Penguin and only the third Russian to win the Hart Trophy, annually awarded to the player “adjudged to be most valuable to his team” by select members of the Professional Hockey Writers Association.

Leading the Penguins to the playoffs would boost his credentials, especially if he claims the Art Ross Trophy that would accompany his first scoring title.

“I’m not thinking about (those hockey trophies),” Malkin said yesterday.

His good friend and teammate Max Talbot has thought about them, and …

“He deserves (them),” Talbot said. “He’s been a tremendous clutch player for us this year.”

Interim coach Dan Bylsma said Malkin’s chosen leadership style requires up-close viewing to appreciate.

“On TV … it’s not evident how he wants to take control of the game, raise his level up,” Bylsma said. “You can see at times when he grabs the puck and wants to go – he can go, and it’s tough to take it off him.”

Payton Liske Named Finalist For 2009 Marcel-Robert Trophy

Trophy news from St. John, NB….

Payton Liske Named Finalist For 2009 Marcel-Robert Trophy

The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League has announced that Saint John Sea Dogs forward Payton Liske has been named a finalist for the 2009 Marcel-Robert Trophy, awarded annually to the league’s top academic player.

The remaining finalists for this prestigious award are Guillaume Goulet of Baie-Comeau, Dominic Jalbert of Chicoutimi, Drummondville’s Danny Massé, and Shawinigan’s Pierre-Alexandre Vandall.