The Stanley Cup is the ultimate prize in hockey. It’s the trophy that every NHL player dreams of hoisting over their head after a hard-fought playoff run. But does every player on the championship team get their name engraved on the iconic trophy? Let’s take a closer look at the interesting history and rules around getting your name on the Stanley Cup.
A Brief History of the Stanley Cup
The Stanley Cup was first awarded back in 1893 as the championship trophy for Canada’s top amateur hockey club. Originally called the Dominion Hockey Challenge Cup, it was donated by Lord Stanley of Preston, who was the Governor General of Canada at the time.
In the early years, there were different rules around how teams and players became immortalized on the Cup. Between 1893 and 1914, it was the winning team’s hockey association that had the honor of engraving their team and players’ names each year. Some clubs chose to engrave only the team name, while others included their full rosters.
Beginning in 1915, the National Hockey Association became the first league to declare that only certain qualified players from the championship team could have their names engraved. Rules and guidelines continued to evolve over time, often differing between leagues.
Today, the Stanley Cup is awarded each year to the NHL playoff champion. The winning team and its players get their names etched on the trophy, under the supervision of the Hockey Hall of Fame.
Modern Rules for Getting Your Name on the Cup
So what exactly are the current rules around getting your name engraved on the Stanley Cup after an NHL championship win? Here are the key requirements:
- To qualify, a player must have either played in at least 41 regular season games OR 1 Stanley Cup Finals game for the winning team.
- Players are typically engraved alphabetically by last name, along with the team name and year.
- A player’s name can only appear once on the Cup, regardless of how many times he wins.
- The names are engraved on removable bands on the trophy barrel. New bands with the latest champions are added each year, while older bands get relocated to the Hall of Fame.
- Non-player team staff like coaches, managers, trainers are also eligible for engraving if they have been with the club for the full season.
- Ownership is typically recognized with a footnote inscription noting “(Team Owner)” after their name.
There are occasionally exceptions and unique cases, but these are the typical guidelines followed each season when it comes time to engrave the latest Stanley Cup champions.
Getting Your Name on the Cup as a Rookie
Making it to the NHL and winning the Stanley Cup is every hockey player’s dream. But it can be an even sweeter accomplishment for rookies who get called up from the minors or make their debut and end up hoisting the Cup in their first season.
While veterans need to meet the 41 regular season game minimum to qualify, rookies can actually get their name on the Cup by only playing in 1 Stanley Cup Finals game. So even young players with limited ice time during the playoffs can earn their spot if they dress for just a single Finals matchup.
Some notable rookies who accomplished this feat include Ken Dryden with Montreal in 1971, Barret Jackman with St. Louis in 2001, Cam Ward with Carolina in 2006, and Jake Guentzel with Pittsburgh in 2017. Getting engraved as a rookie cements a permanent place in hockey history and is a career highlight for any NHLer.
Other Ways Support Staff Get Their Name on the Cup
It’s not just the players who get the honor of seeing their name etched into the Stanley Cup. Team coaches, executives, trainers, equipment managers and other full-time hockey operations staff also become immortalized when their club lifts the trophy.
The criteria is generally being employed by the organization during the entire regular season and postseason. While players need to suit up for just 1 Finals game, support personnel typically have to be on the payroll all year. Owners, general managers, head coaches and assistants usually make the cut without much debate.
Part-time staffers like scouts, minor league coaches and front office members are sometimes included but require special approval. Their engraving is also noted with their role like “(Scout)” or “(Assistant GM)”.
Getting recognized on the Cup is a meaningful way for unsung behind-the-scenes folks to feel part of the championship too after countless hours supporting the players and team.
Unique Cases of Players Getting Their Name on the Cup
While the typical requirements are straightforward, there have been some unique exceptions and scenarios where players got their name engraved in special circumstances:
- Dan Blackburn (NY Rangers): Even though he didn’t play any 2001-02 regular season games due to injury, Blackburn dressed as the backup goalie for 2 playoff games and qualified for engraving.
- Chris Pronger (Edmonton): He only played 37 regular season games in 2005-06 after being acquired in a trade, but his performance was so key to their Cup run that the team requested a special exemption.
- Reggie Lemelin (Philadelphia): He received an exception in 1975 despite only playing 10 regular season games as Bernie Parent’s backup. The Flyers petitioned for his inclusion, without which Parent may not have started 70 games.
These cases illustrate that sometimes extraordinary contributions warrant waiving the rules. But generally you need to meet the minimum games played, even if you have an injury or get traded mid-season.
Players Left Off the Cup Despite Winning
On the flip side, there are players each year who fail to qualify for engraving despite being on the championship roster. This is often due to injury limiting their games played or getting sent to the minors.
Some notable examples of players surprisingly absent from the Cup include:
- Dmitri Khristich (Washington Capitals): Despite playing most of the season, he finished 3 games shy of the minimum in 1997-98.
- Sylvain Lefebvre (Colorado Avalanche): He was traded to the Avs down the stretch in 1995-96 but only played 18 regular season games, leaving him well short.
- Martin Gerber (Carolina Hurricanes): Even though he was their starting goalie to begin 2005-06, injuries kept him to just 38 games played.
So while it’s rare, some players watch their teammates get engraved while knowing their name will forever be absent. Unless the team petitions for an exception, staying healthy and active is key.
Have Any Players Got Their Name on the Cup in Unique Ways?
The traditional way of getting your name on the Stanley Cup is by winning it as an active player or team member. But over the long history of the trophy, there have been some rare exceptions where individuals managed to get engraved without qualifying through the normal route:
- Peter Karmanos (Carolina Hurricanes): Despite not meeting official criteria, the Hurricanes owner successfully petitioned in 2006 as recognition for his financial stakes and involvement in the club.
- Vyacheslav Fetisov and Igor Larionov (Detroit Red Wings): After years of being unable to win the Cup playing internationally for the USSR, both got their names added when Detroit won in 1997-98 as a nod to their hockey legacy.
- Basil Pocklington (Edmonton Oilers): Team owner Peter Pocklington had his father Basil engraved in 1984 even though he had no official role with the Oilers and didn’t qualify.
Cases like these demonstrate the grey areas where some teams have managed to bend the rules and get exceptions made under special circumstances. But outright flouting the qualifications is rare, especially today with tighter Cup custodianship.
Do All Players Attend the Official Engraving?
When the Stanley Cup is engraved each summer, it takes place at the jeweler’s workshop in Montreal where the original Cup bands are added to the barrel. Typically, this formal engraving process involves:
- A representative group of qualified players, coaches and staff traveling to Montreal for the appointment, usually arranged by the NHL and Hockey Hall of Fame.
- The engravers meticulously etching the names on new bands, often standing on special platforms to reach the upper barrel area.
- Some players and club staff witnessing the process in person, taking pictures with the Cup, and authenticating their name was engraved accurately.
But while a handful of players usually attend, not everyone flies up to Montreal or takes part in the official engraving event. Participation is voluntary. Some players opt to let their teammates represent the club instead.
The engraving tradition is more symbolic than anything. The names get etched whether a player is present or not. But being there in person adds extra meaning and memories for the select few who make the trip.
How Many Names Get Engraved Each Year?
If you look at recent Stanley Cup champion engraving bands, you’ll see anywhere from 50-70 names listed. This includes the full roster of players, team executives, coaches and support staff who all qualified.
To give an example, for the 2018 champion Washington Capitals, the final engraving included:
- 20 Players
- 3 General managers
- 8 Coaches
- 19 Support personnel (trainers, PR, equipment staff, etc.)
That’s a total of 50 names from their organization etched onto the Cup that season. The number of players alone ranged from superstars like Alex Ovechkin to benchwarmers that barely met the minimum games requirement.
So while the core team gets the glory on the ice, dozens more behind the scenes often join them as fellow Stanley Cup champions when their name gets immortalized in metal.
Total Engravings By Year
| Year | Team | Names Engraved |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Tampa Bay Lightning | 55 |
| 2020 | Tampa Bay Lightning | 52 |
| 2019 | St. Louis Blues | 58 |
| 2018 | Washington Capitals | 50 |
| 2017 | Pittsburgh Penguins | 61 |
| 2016 | Pittsburgh Penguins | 50 |
| 2015 | Chicago Blackhawks | 52 |
Do Players Get Replica Cup Rings?
Beyond getting their names physically engraved on the Stanley Cup, players also receive replica Cup rings to commemorate their championship victory.
These large, jewel-encrusted rings are like miniature versions of the trophy bowl. They feature custom designs with the team colors, logos and “Stanley Cup Champions” text around the band.
After winning, the NHL team coordinates with jewelry company Jostens to produce ring designs. The players, coaches and staff then vote on the final version. Rings are typically handed out in a ceremony early the following season.
While the rings lack the historical allure of the Cup itself, they make for flashy mementos that players can wear with pride. They serve as a symbol of their membership in the NHL’s most elite club.
Do Players Get Days with Cup?
Lifting the Stanley Cup over their heads on the ice is only the beginning. Each summer, players also get their own day to spend with the Cup based on seniority.
Known as “days with the Cup”, each qualified individual gets 24 hours where the iconic trophy is entrusted to them to take anywhere they want. This often involves:
- Taking it back home to celebrate with family and friends.
- Bringing it to community events and venues that shaped their career.
- Using it for funny stunts, photoshoots and viral moments to share on social media.
Players have taken the Cup skydiving, to weddings, restaurants, museums, hospitals and more. It’s a chance to show off the trophy and create lifelong memories during their short window with it.
Notable Stanley Cup “Days With” Moments
- Mark Messier: Brought the Cup to a strip club in 1987 during an Edmonton off-day, angering the NHL with the inappropriate venue.
- Clark Gillies: Infamously let his dog eat from the Cup after the Islanders won in the early 80s.
- Phil Pritchard: Took a dip with the Cup in Mario Lemieux’s pool after Pittsburgh won the Cup in 1992.
- Patrick Kane: Brought the Cup to a Buffalo mega club in 2015, where it got stuck on the dancefloor later in the night.
Players only get a few years max where they’ll realistically win the Cup before retirement. So they try to make the most of their special day treating hockey’s holy grail to amazing life experiences.
Conclusion
Getting your name permanently engraved on the Stanley Cup is a once-in-a-lifetime achievement for NHL players. While the rules dictate that you need to meet a minimum games played threshold, there are occasional exceptions granted for rookies or those with extenuating circumstances.
Earning a spot alongside the legends of the game takes a magical playoff run. But the harsh reality is that many deserving players ultimately fall short each year. Lifting and kissing Lord Stanley’s mug, taking it home to show off, and seeing your name etched in history – that’s the dream.
