BayToday Picture Play Gallery: Lord Stanley's Cup

Lord Stanley’s Cup is having a work out today as it tours Hockeyville.

The cup was first on display Sunday at a charity barbecue for KidSport and the North Bay Food Bank at Canadore College/Nipissing University Pond from 1-3pm. then moved down to Memorial Gardens for a free public viewing from 4-8pm.

NHL alumni Peter Mahovlich, Bryan Trottier, Gary Leeman, Ken Morrow, Jeff Odgers and Troy Crowder were also on hand to sign autographs.

According to Wikipedia the ‘Holy Grail’ of hockey is the oldest trophy competed for by professional athletes in North America and was donated by Lord Stanley of Preston, the Governor General of Canada at the time, in 1892.

Wikipedia also notes that the trophy was originally known as the Dominion Hockey Challenge Cup and was awarded for Canada's top-ranking amateur ice hockey club. But in 1915, on a gentlemen's agreement between the National Hockey Association (NHA) and the Pacific Coast Hockey Association (PCHA) would see the two pro teams face each other for the Cup.

Since that date the cup has been part of what defines Canada and hockey and in 1947 it was formally adopted as the NHL championship prize.

Mike Bolt, keeper of the cup, says the trophy had a bit of a rough summer so after the viewing in North Bay it will be taken for some tlc in Montreal.