Has the Stanley Cup Ever Been Dented?
The Stanley Cup is one of the most iconic trophies in all of sports. As the championship trophy for the National Hockey League, it has a long and storied history dating back to 1892. Over the years, the Stanley Cup has endured its share of adventures, misadventures, and damage along the way. But has the famous trophy ever actually been dented?
The Origins and Early Years of the Stanley Cup
First awarded in 1893 to the Montreal Amateur Athletic Association (AAA), the Stanley Cup was originally called the Dominion Hockey Challenge Cup. Lord Stanley of Preston, the Governor General of Canada, provided the original cup to serve as a prize for Canada’s top amateur hockey club after becoming enthralled with the sport during his tenure. The trophy bore Lord Stanley’s name from its inception.
In the early years, the Stanley Cup was a bowl-shaped trophy with a wooden base. As other top amateur hockey clubs in Canada challenged the champions each year, more bands were added to the base to accommodate the winning teams’ names. The original Stanley Cup did not look much like the current silver trophy; its bowl-like shape and wooden base made it very different from today’s model in appearance.
Interestingly, two different Stanley Cups were produced during 1908 – one by the Eastern Canada Amateur Hockey Association and the other by the Western Canada Hockey League. This led to significant confusion over which trophy was the real Stanley Cup. In 1910, the National Hockey Association was formed and brought together the top hockey clubs from Eastern and Western Canada, including the reigning champions from the feuding hockey associations. The Eastern version of the Stanley Cup was declared the only legitimate trophy moving forward.
The Stanley Cup Transitions to an All-Professional Trophy
For the first two decades of its existence, the Stanley Cup was awarded to the top amateur hockey club in Canada. But in 1910, the National Hockey Association decided to become a fully professional league. The change meant that only professional clubs could compete for the Stanley Cup. The professional era of the trophy had begun.
The National Hockey Association eventually morphed into the National Hockey League (NHL) in 1917. As the trophy for hockey’s top professional league, the Stanley Cup took on greater prominence and importance. Its profile was further enhanced through radio broadcasts of NHL games starting in the 1920s, followed by the advent of television broadcasts many years later.
The Stanley Cup’s Enduring Tradition and Lore
As the championship trophy for the NHL, the Stanley Cup is steeped in unique traditions and lore. Among the time-honored traditions associated with the trophy:
- The winning team spends 100 offseason days with the Cup, allowing each player, coach, and staff member time with it.
- The Captain gets to hoist the Cup first after a championship victory.
- All winning team members get to spend a day with the Cup during the offseason.
- Unorthodox foods and beverages are often consumed out of the Cup by joyous winners.
The lore surrounding the Stanley Cup includes legendary tales about the trophy’s misadventures and misfortunes. The stories contribute to the Cup’s mystique and reputation as both a revered sports prize and an adventure-seeking object (thanks to the many hijinks that occur while various winners celebrate with the trophy each offseason).
The Stanley Cup’s Eventful Travels and Calamities
Speaking of misadventures, the Stanley Cup has logged countless miles in its travels and suffered through many unfortunate calamities over the years. Some of the more memorable mishaps and happenings involving the trophy include:
- In 1905, members of the Ottawa Silver Seven decided to drop-kick the Cup across the Rideau Canal. Fortunately, it survived the ill-conceived activity.
- In 1924, Montreal Canadiens players on their way to a victory party accidentally left the trophy by the roadside when fixing a flat tire. Thankfully, they recovered it.
- In 1970, the Cup was stolen from the Hockey Hall of Fame but was soon recovered and returned safely.
- In 1980, an Oilers player took the Cup to a TV appearance but forgot it in a hallway after the show. For a while, the trophy went missing once again.
From parades to parties, the Stanley Cup has made the rounds far and wide. It all adds to the trophy’s storied history and mystique. But has it ever actually gotten dented along the way despite the frequent misadventures?
Stanley Cup Dents and Damage Over the Years
The Stanley Cup has indeed suffered various dents and damage throughout its long history. Considering its countless journeys and the wild celebrating that goes on every offseason, it’s amazing the trophy hasn’t sustained more dings and dents. Here is a timeline overview of the various dents and repairs over the years:
1962
After the Toronto Maple Leafs won the Stanley Cup championship in 1962, the trophy developed a noticeable dent when Maple Leafs player Ted Kennedy accidentally slammed it against a fireplace. Kennedy and teammates were celebrating their victory at a team party.
1964
Two years later in 1964, after the Montreal Canadiens claimed the Stanley Cup, Henri Richard’s brother dropped the trophy and put a large dent in the base while carrying it gingerly atop a victory parade vehicle in the streets of Montreal.
1969
When the Montreal Canadiens won the title again in 1969, there was more denting drama. Sometime during the offseason with the Cup, it ended up with a significant dent in its bowl. That forced officials to haul the trophy away for repairs prior to the 1970 NHL season.
1970
After undergoing repairs for the 1969 damage, the Stanley Cup was back in action for the St. Louis Blues heading into the 1970 season. Alas, it didn’t take long for another dent to materialize. The culprit was Blues forward Al Arbour, who also damaged the Cup’s base while improperly hoisting the trophy during a team picture session.
1971
Not to be outdone, the Montreal Canadiens managed to dent the Stanley Cup again during their 1971 offseason victory celebrations. Star forward Henri Richard used the award as a fungo bat and hit a ball with it, putting a nice ding in its side in the process.
1987
In one of the more bizarre incidents, a large dent occurred in the Stanley Cup in 1987 following the championship won by the Edmonton Oilers. While Oilers player Kevin Lowe was bringing the trophy to a charity event, he paused briefly at his home where a teammate accidentally toppled the Cup off its stand, causing a big dent in the body.
1993
After the Montreal Canadiens won the Cup in 1993, the trophy suffered another offseason ding at a team gathering. With rowdy celebrators cramming into a room, the trophy fell over leaving a noticeable indentation.
1995
The New Jersey Devils added their own dent to the Stanley Cup legacy in 1995. Apparently, a Stanley Cup handler supporting the base dropped the trophy during an offseason event. Yet another ding for the history books.
1996
The Colorado Avalanche were responsible for the next Stanley Cup dent after winning the title in 1996. While hosting a party, forward Claude Lemieux accidentally trapped the top of the Cup under a stairway banister, squeezing it and creating a nice crease.
1997
The Detroit Red Wings made their mark on the Stanley Cup in 1997. When team defensemen Vladimir Konstantinov drunkenly decided to do some limbo dancing underneath the Cup during a private team gathering, it predictably ended badly. The revered trophy toppled over leaving yet another dent for repairs.
1999
Not to be outdone, the Dallas Stars added their own dent to the Stanley Cup history books in 1999. While celebrating at a party, forward Eddie Belfour grazed the trophy trying to himself a drink, ending up with it tipped over and sporting a fresh ding.
2002
The Detroit Red Wings were back at it in 2002 after winning another championship. This time, Cup handler Matt Culberson dropped it during a public appearance. The lip of the bowl portion suffered some scuffing and damage as a result.
2006
In 2006, the Stanley Cup took another tumble while with the Carolina Hurricanes during the offseason. As team officials loaded the trophy into a vehicle following a golf outing, someone accidentally dropped the Cup resulting in more scuffs and damage.
2007
Anaheim Ducks forward Brad May put a sizable dent in the Stanley Cup while attempting to eat an inadvisably large piece of food out of the bowl in 2007. His overzealous behavior got the trophy body checking into a wall and leaving a prominent indentation.
2008
More damage occurred in 2008 following the championship run of the Detroit Red Wings. Chelios attempted to drink a beer from the top of the cup during a boat parade only to lose his balance and watch the trophy slide right into the concrete, adding another battle scar to its storied history.
2011
Boston Bruins forward Michael Ryder managed to dent the Stanley Cup in 2011 while walking with the trophy in a public place. Trying to avoid crowds, Ryder brushed the Cup against a wrought iron fence post and left it with a nice crease.
2014
In 2014, Los Angeles Kings players Alec Martinez and Dustin Brown left a big mark on the Stanley Cup while partying at Caesar’s Palace nightclub in Las Vegas. As the two attempted a team picture with the Cup, they lost control of the trophy on a marble floor and watched it bash against the ground, damage and all.
So as this timeline shows, the Stanley Cup clearly has suffered its fair share of dents, dings and damage over many years. But it endures thanks to regular upkeep and repairs.
Why Does the Stanley Cup Keep Getting Dented?
With all these dents piling up over time, an obvious question is why does the Stanley Cup seem to get damaged so frequently? There are a few primary reasons:
Extremely Active Offseason Schedule
As mentioned earlier, each member of the championship team gets to spend a day with the Stanley Cup during the offseason. Not only that, but the team has 100 offseason days total with the trophy for various events and activities. That extremely active schedule increases opportunities for mishaps and damage to occur.
Lots of Movement and Transport
All the time on the road traveling from party to party, activity to activity during the offseason heightens the chances of the Stanley Cup getting dropped, falling, or banged up along the way. It’s a lot of transporting during vulnerable situations.
Boisterous Partying and Misbehavior
From booze-filled team parties to wild nightclubs, the Stanley Cup certainly goes to some raucous celebratory events. With drunken, emotional, and uninhibited fans mingling with the trophy, accidents inevitably happen that leave their mark.
General Mishandling
Many of the Stanley Cup dents arise from simple mishandling, carelessness, or not giving the proper care and respect to such a revered trophy. Even brief moments of mishandling can result in bumps, drops, and damage.
Given this combination of factors, it’s no wonder the Stanley Cup seems to always be nursing new battle wounds each year. The heavy offseason activity, touring, partying, and general carelessness make dents almost inevitable over time.
How is the Stanley Cup Repaired After Damage?
While the Stanley Cup has endured many dents and dings, it has been able to survive in excellent condition thanks to regular repairs and refurbishing by its handlers. So how exactly is the trophy fixed up and restored after damage?
Assessing Damage
The first step is a thorough assessment of any new dents or damage by Stanley Cup handlers to determine the extent of the repairs needed. This involves meticulous inspection and recording the size, depth, and location of any imperfections.
Hammering and Sanding
To fix dents and dings, the standard approach is hammering out and/or sanding down the blemishes to restore a smooth surface. This is performed carefully to not cause further damage or thin the cup walls excessively.
Buffing and Polishing
After hammering and sanding, finer tools are used to buff and polish the damaged areas until the original luster and appearance is restored as much as possible.
Silver Filling (If Needed)
For deeper dents that hammering cannot remedy, fine silver filler material is melted and flowed into the cavities using specialized tools. This provides the underlying structure to rebuild the dented area.
Reshaping and Refinishing
With the foundation fillers in place, the trophy handlers then reshape and refinish the damaged sections down to every exacting detail until normalcy is restored.
Thanks to this dedicated restoration process, the Stanley Cup maintains its elegant appearance despite the wear and tear it endures with each new champion crowned.
Has Stanley Cup Damage Ever Been Left Unrepaired?
While most Stanley Cup damage over the years has been repaired, some teams have chosen to leave small dents intact to commemorate their victories. Examples include:
- The small 1962 dent caused by the Toronto Maple Leafs remains visible today.
- The Detroit Red Wings opted to not repair some of their dents from the late 1990s.
- The black scuff mark from Kris Draper’s baby daughter’s teeth in 2008 is still noticeable.
- The St. Louis Blues declined to fix a few dings added during their 2019 win.
So yes, a few teams have chosen to leave small dents in place, weighting Cup history and charm over perfection. But major damage is still repaired to prevent structural issues.
Does Stanley Cup Damage Affect Its Structural Integrity?
While the stacking up of dents over decades may seem worrisome, Stanley Cup experts insist the damage has no meaningful impact on the trophy’s structural integrity. Here’s why the Cup remains sound:
- Most dents are minor and superficial in nature.
- Any substantial dents are pounded back into shape professionallly.
- The Cup walls are thick enough to absorb typical dent impacts.
- The base provides a sturdy foundation to prevent severe warping.
- Regular refurbishing maintains the Cup’s original form.
As long as repairs and restorative work address dents and dings in a timely manner, the Stanley Cup maintains its structural health despite the wear and tear.
How Much Longer Can the Stanley Cup Survive?
With over 125 years of history already under its belt, how much longer can we expect the Stanley Cup to continue on given the recurring dents and repairs?
Experts overwhelmingly agree the Cup can survive indefinitely with proper care. The existing trophy has endured decades of repairs and can be maintained for many more. Additionally, two identical replica cups have been fabricated, including a 2015 master replica that serves as an insurance policy against damage to the original.
As long as the replicas stand at the ready and restoration work persists on the authentic Cup, we should get to enjoy the historic Stanley Cup in hockey celebrations for many generations to come.
Conclusion
In summary, the Stanley Cup clearly has suffered its share of dents, dings, and damage over a century of boisterous hockey celebrations. But diligent maintenance and repairs have kept the trophy structurally sound. With proper ongoing care and the insurance of replica cups now in place, hockey fans can expect Lord Stanley’s treasured mug to survive the trials of time and retain its rightful place in NHL championship lore.
