The ultimate hockey award as every hockey fan knows is the Stanley Cup. It is presented to the winning team in the National Hockey league and is often referred to as the ‘Holy Grail’ or called by sportswriters ‘Lord Stanley’s Mug’. The Stanley Cup, unlike many trophies, is not manufactured new each year but instead is passed from winner to winner. On the base is the name of every winning player, management, coach and club staff engraved on it. Yes, there are misspellings on it and they have not been corrected. The original bowl was just over 7 and one half inches tall and was made of silver. A replica of this bowl is on the current Stanley Cup. The Stanley Cup now stands almost three feet high and weights almost 35 pounds.

The Stanley Cup has a colorful history, it has been used as a popcorn bowl by a New Jersey Devil and was seen in strip joints with a New York Ranger. Someone used it as a flower pot and it has also been used as a toilet bowl. At least one dog and a Kentucky Derby winning horse has eaten from it. One time the Stanley Cup was removed from the trunk of a player’s car so that a flat tire could be changed, it was thrown on the side of a road. They drove off without getting the cup and later returned to find it still there.

Just because a team does not win the Stanley Cup, it does not mean that outstanding players are not on that team. Individual awards are presented to individual players on the various teams.

In a sport that has a reputation for fighting and violence, the
Lady Byng trophy should not be overlooked. This is awarded to a player who acts like a gentleman and display qualities of outstanding sportsmanship; the player must also exhibit an exceptional level of the skill. Lady Byng was an exceptional hockey fan, she was the wife of the twelfth governor of Canada. Lady Byng appreciated gentlemanly play and wanted to encourage it.

In 1937, the Calder Memorial Trophy was first presented to the leagues best rookie player. This trophy was named after Frank Calder, the first President of the NHL from its inception in 1917 to 1943, when he died. Amazingly enough, due to the rules that are in place to define a qualifying recipient, Wayne Gretzky did not receive this award. Gretzky had played a full season in the World Hockey Association disqualifying him from this award.

The leagues most valuable player gets a trophy called the Hart Memorial Trophy, it is the oldest award in hockey; it was first awarded in 1924. The recipient of this award is decided by the Professional Hockey Writer’s Association. Wayne Gretzky won this award eight consecutive times and a total of nine times.

The playoffs get their own trophies, the most valuable player for the playoffs receives the Conn Smythe trophy. This trophy is interesting because it is embellished with a botanically correct Maple leaf. It was designed to honor Conn Smythe, the former owner, general manager and coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Conn Smyte has been awarded 44 times and 40 of those times it has been awarded to Canadian players.

There are other trophies and awards, not every player will win an award and not every player deserves one, though the best of the best are recognized for their effort. These awards are given to players who know they have put forth their best effort and this is the way they are recognized for their effort.