AHL Says No to the Stanley Cup

Americal Hockey League | 2/17/2005 | frithguild

[frithguild]

Here is the AHL response to my suggestion that they make a claim for their champion to be awarded the Stanley Cup:

Thanks for writing.

According to the Hockey Hall of Fame, the Stanley Cup is no longer a challenge cup; since 1947, its trustees have had an agreement with the National Hockey League to "determine and amend competition for the Stanley Cup."

The agreement is in force as long as the NHL is the world's leading professional hockey league. If the NHL dissolved or terminated, the Cup would revert to the custody of the trustees.

The NHL may not be playing in 2004-05, but the league still exists, and still owns custody of the Stanley Cup.

Regardless of the NHL's situation, the American Hockey League has no interest in competing for the Stanley Cup. Our players and teams have their own coveted trophy to compete for, a Calder Cup that has nearly seven decades of history itself.

Again, thank you for writing, and for your support of the AHL.

=================== Jason Chaimovitch Vice President, Communications American Hockey League info@theahl.com

----- Original Message ----- From: [frithguild] To: info@theahl.com Sent: Wednesday, February 16, 2005 3:36 PM Subject: NHL Forefits the Right to Award the Stanley Cup

The right to award the Stanley Cup was never granted to the National Hockey League, who has enjoyed stewardship over the cup by carrying out the wishes of Lord Stanley. These wishes have been have been entirely frustrated by the cancellation of the NHL Season. The NHL should therefore be divested of the stewardship over the Cup, because of a breach of trust.

Lord Stanley of Preston, the Governor General of Canada became interested in hockey during his stint as Governor General from 1888 to 1893. He offered to pay 10 guineas for a trophy to be used as a challenge cup rewarding the best amateur hockey teams in Canada and first awarded for the 1893-94 hockey season. The original intent of Lord Stanley was to award the cup to amateur hockey players. Amateur teams competed for the Cup until 1910, when the professional National Hockey Association (NHA) was formed. In in 1917 the NHA became the National Hockey League (NHL), whose teams competed for the Cup against teams from other pro leagues until 1926. By that time, the other leagues had folded, thus making the Stanley Cup the exclusive domain of the NHL.

The NHL has forefitted the right to possession of the cup, which must be awarded each year to a North American hockey team. Anything else flies in the face of history, tradition and the will of Lord Stanley.

[captcanada]

I agree with you. The Stanley Cup should not have a blank year just because the NHL is in limbo.

[wolfpat]

I like AHL hockey better than NHL hockey anyway. The Hurricanes games I've seen weren't that good. But during the time the Greensboro Monarchs were in business as an AHL team, I thoroughly enjoyed every game.

[Hat-Trick]

Hockey Ping!

Freep mail or ping me if you want on or off the Hockey Ping List.

[retrokitten]

A couple of years ago Chicago Wolves goalie, Wendell Young, retired. He is the only player to win 4 different cups- the Stanley Cup, Calder Cup, Turner Cup (IHL) and one more that I can't think of right now. Anyway, the Wolves had Wendell Young Night and brought all 4 cups to the arena. The arena was dark and the three other cups were already set up when they brought out the Stanley Cup. All 16,000 people fell into hushed whispers when the Cup was in sight. "There it is. That's the Stanley Cup." The mood in the arena noticeably changed. It almost felt like static electricity right before the shock. We all were very aware that the Cup probably wouldn't be back in Chicago for a very long time. It was really something.

Later between periods they let the fans get their picture with all four cups. Ours is prominently displayed in our living room. :-)

[B Knotts]

I think it should go to the WHA, if they ever get their act together.

[captcanada]

You might find this of interest...

Wendell Young (G) Goalie
Born Aug 1 1963 -- Halifax, NS
Height 5.09 -- Weight 181 -- Shoots L


http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php3?pid=5837

[captcanada]

Major Junior hockey is pretty good too. The youngsters haven't got their millions yet, and are busting their butts to get noticed by scouts. The pinnacle is the Memorial Cup (dating back to 1919).

http://www.legendsofhockey.net/html/silver_splashmemorialcup.htm

[wolfpat]

I wish we had Major Junior Hockey, but I'm in North Carolina. We're lucky even to know what hockey is.

[captcanada]

6 out of 8 2004 draft picks by the Carolina Hurricanes are Major Junior.

Carolina had a great run the year before last and surprised a lot of people (me included).

[retrokitten]

He and I have the same birthdate, different year, though. He's still a major fan favorite here in Chicago.

[jjmcgo]

Wendell Young won the 1982 Memorial Cup with the Kitchener Rangers on a team that included fellow future NHLers Brian Bellows, Al MacInnis, Mike Eagles, Mike Hough, Scott Stevens and John Tucker. Here's that team.
http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/leagues/seasons/teams/0008121982.html
The Memorial Cup is the championship of the Canadian junior hockey leagues, which include the Western Hockey League, Ontario Hockey League and the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.
Here's an account of that Memorial Cup:
http://www.chl.ca/CHLMemorialCup04/history_1982.html

[retrokitten]

Thanks! That's he one I couldn't think of.

[Visalia]

I've been jonesing for hockey all season. Just when I think I'm getting over it...

[Angry Republican]

Go Wolves!