Stanley Cup

The Stanley Cup is the championship trophy awarded annually to the National Hockey League playoff winner. It is the oldest trophy awarded to a professional sports franchise in North America.

Frederick Stanley, 16th Earl of Derby: The British politician and governor general of Canada who donated the trophy that became the Stanley Cup. He donated the original cup in 1892 to recognize Canada’s top amateur hockey team.
Stanley Cup playoffs: The National Hockey League’s postseason tournament that determines its champion. The playoff winner earns the trophy each season.
Stanley Cup trustees: The guardians responsible for overseeing the Stanley Cup under its governing trust. Trustees helped preserve the trophy and its traditions through changes in hockey’s governing leagues.
Stanley Cup traditions: Customs associated with the trophy, including team celebrations and its annual summer travels. These practices give the Cup a public life beyond championship games.
1893 Stanley Cup: The first championship awarded using the trophy donated by Lord Stanley. Montreal Hockey Club won the inaugural championship under the original challenge-cup rules.
National Hockey League playoff format: The rules and structure governing qualification and series in the NHL postseason. Its elimination rounds decide which team advances toward the Cup.
Keeper of the Cup: The person who travels with and safeguards the Stanley Cup during its public appearances. The Cup’s extensive travels require a dedicated custodian.
Stanley Cup parade: A public celebration held by a championship team, commonly featuring the trophy and its players. Parades turn a team’s Cup victory into a civic celebration.
Stanley Cup Challenge: A series of matches in which teams challenged the reigning Stanley Cup champion. Challenge games determined the early Cup holders before league playoffs took over.
Best-of-seven playoff series: A contest in which the first team to win four games advances or wins the series. Each Stanley Cup playoff round uses this series format.

Linked from 24 pages