In what sport is the Stanley Cup awarded?

Ice hockey.

The Stanley Cup is awarded in the sport of ice hockey to the champion of the National Hockey League (NHL). It is the oldest professional sports trophy in North America, having been awarded annually since 1893. The Stanley Cup is considered one of the most prestigious trophies in all of professional sports and is the ultimate goal for every NHL team.

The trophy was originally donated by Lord Stanley of Preston, who was the Governor General of Canada at the time. He was a big fan of hockey and wanted to provide a championship trophy for Canada’s top amateur team. Over time, the competition evolved, and by 1926, the Stanley Cup became the exclusive championship trophy of the NHL.

The Stanley Cup playoffs, held at the end of each NHL season, determine the champion. Sixteen teams qualify for the playoffs and compete in a series of best-of-seven elimination rounds. The final two teams face off in the Stanley Cup Final, with the winner being crowned the champion. The team that wins gets to have its players, coaches, and staff engraved on the trophy, a tradition that has been carried on for decades.

Unlike most other sports trophies, the Stanley Cup is not remade each year. Instead, the same trophy is passed from champion to champion, and players from the winning team each get a day with the Cup to celebrate. This has led to many legendary and unique traditions, such as players taking the Cup to their hometowns, using it for celebratory meals, and even baptizing babies in it.

Winning the Stanley Cup is considered the pinnacle of success in professional hockey, and it remains one of the most coveted trophies in sports.