5 fun things to know about the Stanley Cup Final
You know a lot about the Stanley Cup, I get that. You’re a hockey fan, it’s the season’s climax, how could you not?
I still guarantee you learn at least one thing below, and likely closer to four or five. If not, well, your money back.
Did you know…
#1
12 players have won the Cup back-to-back seasons...with different teams
Marian Hossa did the reverse with the Pittsburgh Penguins and Detroit Red Wings in 2008 and 2009. The guys who did it right?
| Player | First Champion | Second Champion |
|---|---|---|
| Cory Stillman | 2004 Tampa Bay | 2006 Carolina |
| Claude Lemieux | 1995 New Jersey | 1996 Colorado |
| Al Arbour | 1961 Chicago | 1962 Toronto |
| Ed Litzenberger | 1961 Chicago | 1962 Toronto |
| Ab McDonald | 1960 Montreal | 1961 Chicago |
| Eddie Gerard | 1922 Toronto | 1923 Ottawa |
| Lionel Conacher | 1934 Chicago | 1935 Montreal |
| Eddie Gerard | 1921 Ottawa | 1922 Toronto |
| Harry Holmes | 1917 Seattle | 1918 Toronto |
| Bruce Stuart | 1908 Montreal | 1909 Ottawa |
| Art Ross | 1907 Kenora | 1908 Montreal |
| Jack Marshall | 1901 Winnipeg | 1902 Montreal |
#2
There have been nine women's names engraved on the Stanley Cup
And we’re not talking about dudes named Kelly. Those esteemed women:
- Marguerite Norris (1955) - President of the Detroit Red Wings
- Sonia Scurfield (1989) - Co-owner of the Calgary Flames
- Marie-Denise DeBartolo York (1991) - President of the Pittsburgh Penguins
- Marian Ilitch (1997, 1998) - Co-owner of the Detroit Red Wings
- Denise Ilitch (1997, 1998) - Detroit Red Wings
- Lisa Ilitch (1997, 1998) - Detroit Red Wings
- Carole Ilitch Trepeck (1997, 1998) - Detroit Red Wings
- Charlotte Grahame (2001) - Executive management with the Colorado Avalanche
- Nancy Anchutz (2012) - Co-owner, Los Angeles Kings
#3
15 sub .500 teams have made the Cup final
Sub .500! These days you can finish with 90 points and miss playoffs.
Those teams:
| Year | Team | Record |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | Minnesota North Stars | 27-39-14 |
| 1982 | Vancouver Canucks | 30-33-17 |
| 1968 | St. Louis Blues | 27-31-16 |
| 1961 | Detroit Red Wings | 25-29-16 |
| 1959 | Toronto Maple Leafs | 27-32-11 |
| 1958 | Boston Bruins | 27-28-15 |
| 1953 | Boston Bruins | 28-29-13 |
| 1951 | Montreal Canadiens | 25-30-15 |
| 1950 | New York Rangers | 28-31-11 |
| 1949 | Toronto Maple Leafs | 22-25-13 |
| 1944 | Chicago Blackhawks | 22-23- 5 |
| 1942 | Detroit Red Wings | 19-25- 4 |
| 1939 | Toronto Maple Leafs | 19-20- 9 |
| 1938 | Chicago Blackhawks | 14-25- 9 |
| 1937 | New York Rangers | 19-20- 9 |
#4
6 players have won Olympic gold and the Stanley Cup in the same year
Those players:
| Player | Year | Teams | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ken Morrow | 1980 | USA, New York Islanders | |
| Steve Yzerman | 2002 | Canada, Detroit Red Wings | |
| Brendan Shanahan | 2002 | Canada, Detroit Red Wings | |
| Jonathan Toews | 2010 | Canada, Chicago Blackhawks | |
| Duncan Keith | 2010 | Canada, Chicago Blackhawks | |
| Brent Seabrook | 2010 | Canada, Chicago Blackhawks |
That will change this year, with guys like Jeff Carter, Drew Doughty, Rick Nash and Martin St. Louis in the Cup Final after winning gold with Canada in Sochi.
#5
There has only been nine - just nine! - penalty shots awarded in the Stanley Cup Final
| Date | Shooter | Goalie | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| June 6, 2007 | Antoine Vermette (Ott) | J.S. Giguere (Ana) | Save |
| June 5, 2006 | Chris Pronger (Edm) | Cam Ward (Car) | Goal |
| June 7, 1994 | Pavel Bure (Van) | Mike Richter (NYR) | Save |
| May 18, 1990 | Petr Klima (Edm) | Rejean Lemelin (Bos) | Save |
| May 30, 1985 | Dave Poulin (Phi) | Grant Fuhr (Edm) | Save |
| May 28, 1985 | Ron Sutter (Phi) | Grant Fuhr (Edm) | Save |
| May 16, 1971 | Frank Mahovlich (Mtl) | Tony Esposito (Chi) | Save |
| April 13, 1944 | Virgil Johnson (Chi) | Bill Durnan (Mtl) | Save |
| April 15, 1937 | Alex Shibicky (NYR) | Earl Robertson (Det) | Save |
And there you have it. Admit it. You learned a hockey something you didn't know today, and you're a better fan for it.
(Source: NHL.com)