The Stanley Cup has become the holy grail of ice hockey, and one of the most famous trophies in the history of all sports.  It originated as a small silver bowl, purchased by Lord Stanley of Preston in 1892 after he noticed there was no award for the championship team in the Ontario Hockey Association (OHA).  This decorative bowl cost only ten guineas, and was henceforth awarded to each year’s amateur championship team.

In 1915, the National Hockey Association (NHA) and the Pacific Coast Hockey Association (PCHA) made the decision that each of their respective champion teams would face one another for the honor of holding the Stanley Cup each year.  And, in 1926, with the establishment of the NHL, the Cup became the de facto championship trophy.  It is one of the very few sporting trophies that is not replicated, but is passed from team to team as a new champion is declared each year.  All members of the winning franchise have their names inscribed on the Cup.

In 1948, the ‘Stovepipe Cup’ had a makeover.  Because it was continually growing with each band added for engraving, the decision was made to change the design of the cup into a two-piece cigar shaped trophy with removable bowl and collar.

1958 saw the design changed once again into the current look of the Stanley Cup.  It is made up of five bands, each one containing enough room for 13 championship teams.  These bands filled up in 1991, and thus the top band was removed, displayed in the Hockey Hall of Fame, and replaced with another blank band at the bottom of the trophy.  The original silver bowl and collar were replaced in 1963 and 1969 respectively, as they were too brittle to remain on the trophy.  Both are now displayed at the Hockey Hall of Fame.

The Stanley Cup currently stands at 35 ¼ inches (89.5cm) and weighs 34 ½ pounds (15 ½ kilograms).