Latest news with #TheStanleyCup
CNN
2 days ago
- Sport
- CNN
The Stanley Cup: The storied and quirky history of one of sports' greatest trophies
(CNN) — It's one of the most recognizable trophies in sports, with a history dating back to the 19th century, so it's no surprise that the Stanley Cup has a story or two to tell. Named after Lord Stanley of Preston, a Canadian governor general who donated the first Cup back in 1892, the trophy is awarded to the NHL champions every year. It is, and always has been, the pinnacle of the sport and something players dedicate their entire lives to winning. With that being the case, it's perhaps predictable that those who manage to get their hands on the trophy are keen to celebrate, especially since it is tradition that every player of the winning squad gets to spend an entire day with the prized silverware. Problem is, that's left the poor old Stanley Cup in some unusual situations. CNN Sports looks at some of the most bizarre predicaments it's ended up in. Prized possession The Stanley Cup is looked after by a team of people with the title of 'Keeper of the Cup.' These people travel with the trophy, keeping it clean and, more importantly, safe. At least one member of the team is always with the trophy when it's in public. 'We get called different things too. People have fun with it. They call us Cup keepers, Cup dudes, Cup guys. You know, handlers is all kinds of terms, but in essence, we're basically babysitting the Cup,' Howie Burrow, Keeper of the Cup, told CNN Sports. Global tour The Stanley Cup has traveled to dozens of countries around the world, including places such as Afghanistan, Japan, Scotland and the UAE. It doesn't get a first-class seat, though. Instead, it flies underneath the airplane in a very secure box. 'When I'm getting my boarding passes, I'll open it up to show whoever's checking me in, but soon as I do that, there's usually about a dozen people in the other lines going, 'Oh my God, that's a Stanley Cup. Can I get a photo? Can I touch it?'' Burrow told CNN. All shapes and sizes The Stanley Cup we see today has been the same shape since 1948, but it hasn't always looked the same. The first ever iteration of the trophy, back in 1892, was just a bowl and was called the Dominion Hockey Challenge Cup. Over the years, more tiers have been added to it and now the Cup stands at 35.25 inches and weighs 34.5 pounds. 'If you have to hang on to it for a long time and say, you have to walk a block or two because you're following somebody, it does get heavy. You're switching arms, or you got to put it down. You can work up a good sweat. But when the players first win it, right after on the ice, I mean, I'm sure it weighs hardly anything to them,' Burrow said to CNN. Etched into history Each player of the winning team has their name etched into a band which is then placed onto the trophy – with older bands being retired through the years. Given the number of winners, it's not surprising that a few spelling mistakes have creeped onto the prestigious Cup. Summer tour Since 1995, every player who wins the Stanley Cup is allowed a day to celebrate with it – sometimes two – in any way they deem fit. The trophy is then returned to NHL trustees before the new season, meaning every team bids to win the prestigious trophy again. Record winners No team in history has gotten its hands on the Stanley Cup more than the Montreal Canadiens. The Habs have won it 24 times, including a record five-in-a-row from 1956 to 1960. The franchise's first win came in 1916 – before the NHL even ran the tournament. The Canadiens haven't won it since 1993, though, and last reached the final in 2021.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Connor McDavid And The Rangers, Plus Playoff One-Liners
1. Connor McDavid is not that far away from free agency and you know what that means to The Maven: Or do You? I'm wondering whether The Wonderman ever could become a Ranger. 2. If ex-Oilers Wayne Gretzky, Mark Messier, Kevin Lowe and Esa Tikkanen – just to name a few – could don a Blue Shirt, why not McDavid? 3. Let's put it this way, if McD&Company do what they always do, NOT WIN THE CUP, don't you think an aging Captain Connor will start looking around. 4. There's no law against that but a performer of his immense talent might think like The Great One did; it's time to get out of town and play in a metropolis. Could be L.A. could be New York, could even be Toronto where they never hold Stanley! 5. Looking backward, one of the Rangers' biggest mistakes was not keeping Ryan Reaves as a Blueshirt. 6. Or as Bernie Rhode likes to say, "There are no lions in the Rangers lineup." 7. When the Oilers blew their third period lead last night, Sportsnets Mark Spector called it an "immature collapse." (Does that mean that there's something like a "mature collapse" in hockey?) 8. Brendan Shanahan as Prince of the Islanders kingdom is an intriguing prospect – if it happens. I interviewed Shanny after the Devils drafted him. He had confidence written all over him and the brightest green sports jacket as well. 9. We should have a better idea about what's inside – as well as outside – the Hurricanes. (Likely a lot. Then again so do the other guys." 10. If I was a Maple Leafs fan wanted my team to win The Stanley Cup next spring, I'd hope very hard that Brad Treliving unloads John Tavares. (By the way, that's not to suggest that the Leafs ever will win the prize. And I do mean EVER!)
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
The New York And Toronto Markets Have Major Detriments
Dennis Schneidler-Imagn Images Now there's an alibi out there for the Maple Leafs horrendous loss in Game Seven on Sunday night. It's the media. Too much attention – as the sobbing goes – is foisted on the darling Toronto players – day in and day out. It wears them out. The Really Scary Similarities Between The Rangers and Maple Leafs The Really Scary Similarities Between The Rangers and Maple Leafs The Maple Leafs are the richest team in the NHL and the Advertisement Rangers are second richest. (Can you guess what's coming next?) Supposedly, it makes them nervous and that's supposed to explain why they capsized at home by 6-1 scores in Games Five and Seven. From time to time The Maven hears the same nonsense in relation to the Rangers' demise this past season. Media avalanche buries the Blueshirts. Getting back to the Leafs, let's remember that Captain Auston Matthews is a skating cartel – a very, very well-paid fellow. Like Mitch Marner and that other multi-millionaire John Tavares, these fellows are not in any torture chamber when they are asked simple questions in English. They answer. What's the big deal? Advertisement The Leafs are babied everywhere they go – 5-star hotels, fancy restaurants, a dream training facility and a luxury private plane that's like a flying hotel. This is what they're asked to do during the regular season if you are Auston Matthews: 1. Play about 20 minutes of ice time a few times a week. Practice for a couple of hours a few times a week. 2. Speak to the media for about – maximum – five minutes after practice and after the games, if p.r. allows it. 3. Miscellaneous stuff that shouldn't amount to much. The rest of the time they do what they want. And have the whole summer free since they never win The Stanley Cup. Advertisement Considering how well they are paid, they should expect media scrutiny. What's the big deal – it's just words. Over and out in minutes. Anyone who's afraid of that deal should give up big-league hockey and try something less trying like siestas and oversleeping. Bottom Line: These Maple Leafs never had it so good. Too bad that they don't appreciate how lucky they are. Too bad they can't play like the Champs in Sunrise, Florida, of all places.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Incredible But True Rangers Feats; How The Blueshirts Booted Around The 1984 Stanley Cup
Keepers of The Stanley Cup have become very careful about how the iconic trophy is handled by the winning team. It was the Rangers who forced the league to have its own MP's to be sure that the Cup is not abused. In 1994, Rangers celebrants Brian Noonan and Nick Kypreos appeared with The Cup on MTV's "Beach House" where Stanley was dressed in a T-shirt, baseball cap , and fake mustache. "Then," wrote author Ross Bernstein in his book Raising Stanley, "it was stuffed with raw oysters." Horse race fan Ed Olczyk took a bag of oats to Belmont Race Track in Long Island and fed Kentucky Derby winner "Go For Gin" the oats from Stanley. The thoroughbred loved it but not the NHL. Hijinks still take place but league officials follow around the celebrants just to be sure that oats and a fake mustache do not deface our favorite hockey trophy!
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
The Maple Leafs Epic Collapse and More Playoff News Rangers Fans Should Know
1. There's only one way the Maple Leafs can erase the stench left by last night's disgraceful 6-1 home loss and that is to win tomorrow night in Florida. 2. A second round exit – after leading Florida two games to none – won't cost Craig Berube his job but you have to wonder how long Brendan Shanahan can last in his Ivory Tower overlooking Lake Ontario. 3. Barring some miraculous event, by next fall, failable Mitch Marner will be as far away from Toronto as Madison Square Garden. Or UBS Arena in Elmont. 4. Everyone seems to have forgotten that Buffalo's latest non-playoff season still could cost Lindy Ruff his job. 5. If we knew then what we know now, Kris Knoblauch would be Rangers coach today and not Mike Sullivan. 6. Of all the new coach hirings, Rick Tocchett to Philadelphia makes the most sense – but only for sentimental reasons. 7. For those who like to bet, the Oilers were listed at 11-1 to win The Stanley Cup by The Hockey News Yearbook. Florida is 13-1 and Dallas -- best of all -- at 8-1. 8. A Playoff team and player made for each other: Florida and Brad Marchand. 9. Okay, okay, The Maven is just wondering but I get the feeling that Barry Trotz would rather be coaching Nashville than general managing. 10. Right now Jacob Slavin is the most underrated outstanding defenseman in the playoffs! And that's why no one should underestimate the Canes!
