It was the express intention of Lord Stanley that there would be a “Challenge Cup which should be held from year to year by the champion hockey team in the Dominion of Canada.

On March 22nd, 1894, the first Stanley Cup contest was played. A one game playoff between the Montreal Hockey Club and the Ottawa Capitals. 5,000 eager fans paying 25 cents each for rush seats and 75 cents for reserve seats watched Montreal defeat the Capitals 3-1. Lord Stanley was not in attendance, having returned to England to attend family business. In fact, Lord Stanley never attended a Stanley Cup Championship game, but left his mark on the sport by leaving behind Hockey’s most renowned and sought legacy.