Being a hockey fan, i was mildly curious about the names of the trophies. The Hart trophy, the Stanley cup, the Lady Byng trophy. How did they get their names? Please answer as many as possilble, especially the Lady Byng.
Thank you
“If you love someone, set them free. If they come back, set them on fire.”----George Carlin
Okay, you asked for it.
Stanley Cup–It all started on March 18, 1892, at a dinner of the Ottawa Amateur Athletic Association. Lord Kilcoursie, a player on the Ottawa Rebels hockey club from Government House, delivered the following message on behalf of Lord Stanley, the Earl of Preston and Governor General of Canada:
"I have for some time been thinking that it would be a good thing if there were a challenge cup which should be held from year to year by the champion hockey team in the Dominion (of Canada). “There does not appear to be any such outward sign of a championship at present, and considering the general interest which matches now elicit, and the importance of having the game played fairly and under rules generally recognized, I am willing to give a cup which shall be held from year to year by the winning team.”
The Stanley Cup was originally known as the Dominion Hockey Challenge Cup. Shortly thereafter, Lord Stanley purchased a silver cup measuring 7 ½ inches high by 11 ½ inches across for the sum of 10 guineas (approximately $50); appointed two Ottawa gentlemen, Sheriff John Sweetland and Philip D. Ross, as trustees of that cup; and set the following preliminary conditions to govern the annual competition:
The winners to return the Cup in good order when required by the trustees in order that it may be handed over to any other team which may win it.
Each winning team to have the club name and year engraved on a silver ring fitted on the Cup.
The Cup to remain a challenge competition and not the property of any one team, even if won more than once.
The trustees to maintain absolute authority in all situations or disputes over the winner of the Cup.
A substitute trustee to be named in the event that one of the existing trustees drops out.
The Calder Memorial Trophy is an annual award given to the player selected as the most proficient in his first year of competition in the National Hockey League. The winner is selected in a poll of the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association at the end of the regular season.
From 1936-37 until his death in 1943, Frank Calder, NHL President, bought a trophy each year to be given permanently to the outstanding rookie. After Calder’s death, the NHL presented the Calder Memorial Trophy in his memory and the trophy is to be kept in perpetuity.
To be eligible for the award, a player cannot have played more than 25 games in any single preceding season nor in six or more games in each of any two preceding seasons in any major professional league. The player must not be older than 26 years before September 15 of the season in which he is eligible.
The Jack Adams Award is an annual award presented by the National Hockey League Broadcasters’ Association to the NHL coach adjudged to have contributed the most to his team’s success. The winner is selected in a poll among members of the NHL Broadcasters’ Association at the end of the regular season.
The award was presented by the NHL Broadcasters’ Association in 1974 to commemorate the late Jack Adams, former coach and general manager of the Detroit Red Wings. His lifetime dedication to hockey has served as an inspiration to all who aspire to further the game.
The King Clancy Memorial Trophy is an annual award given to the player who best exemplifies leadership qualities on and off the ice and has made a noteworthy humanitarian contribution in his community.
The Clancy Trophy was presented to the National Hockey League by the Board of Governors in 1988 to honor the late Frank “King” Clancy.
The Hart Memorial Trophy is an annual award given to the player judged to be the most valuable to his team. The winner is selected in a poll of the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association in all NHL cities at the end of the regular season.
The Hart Memorial Trophy was presented by the National Hockey League in 1960 after the original Hart Trophy was retired to the Hockey Hall of Fame. The original Hart Trophy was donated to the NHL in 1923 by Dr. David A. Hart, father of Cecil Hart, former manager-coach of the Montreal Canadiens.
The William M. Jennings Trophy is an annual award given to the goalkeeper(s) having played a minimum of 25 games for the team with the fewest goals scored against it. Winners are selected based on regular-season play.
The Jennings Trophy was presented in 1981-82 by the National Hockey League’s Board of Governors to honor the late William M. Jennings, longtime governor and president of the New York Rangers and one of the great builders of hockey in the United States.
The Lady Byng Memorial Trophy is an annual award given to the player adjudged to have exhibited the best type of sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with a high standard of playing ability. The winner is selected in a poll of the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association at the end of the regular season.
Lady Byng, wife of Canada’s Governor-General at the time, presented the Lady Byng trophy in 1925. After Frank Boucher of the New York Rangers won the award seven times in eight seasons, he was given the trophy to keep and Lady Byng donated another trophy in 1936.
After Lady Byng’s death in 1949, the National Hockey League presented a new trophy, changing the name to Lady Byng Memorial Trophy.
You can find out all you need to know about hockey at www.nhl.com. That’s where I got all my info.
There’ also the:
Art Ross Trophy, to “the player who leads the league in scoring points at the end of a regular season”. Donated in 1947 by Arthur Howie Ross, former manager-coach of the Bruins.
James Norris Memorial Trophy, to “the defense player who demonstrates throughout the season the greatest all-round ability in the position”. Winner selected by poll by the Pro Hockey Writers Assc. Presented in 1953 by the four children of the late James Norris, former owner of the Red Wings.
Vezina Trophy, to “the goalkeeper adjudged t be the best at his position”. Voted by GMs of each of the clubs. Three former owners of the Montreal Canadiens presented the trophy in 1926 in memory of Georges Vezina, outstanding goalkeeper of the Habs who collapsed during an NHL game in 1925 and died of TB a few months later. Until 1981, goalkeepers who allowed the fewest goals during the regular season were awarded the trophy.
The Prince of Whales Trophy. Awarded to the winner of the Eastern Conference. HRH, the Prince of Wales, donated the trophy to the NHL in 1924.
There are more, but I only included trophies from before 1960 because in my humble opinion, these are the REAL NHL trophies. There’s a great book, The National Hockey League Official Guide and Record Book, that is put out every year. It has everything anyone needs to know about Hockey, coolest team sport on earth!