The Florida Panthers’ Stanley Cup victory celebrations have been nothing short of exuberant after securing their second consecutive championship against the Edmonton Oilers. However, the historic trophy itself appears to have paid a small price, sustaining both a crack and a dent during the revelry.
Following the Panthers’ decisive Game 6 win, images and videos circulating from the team’s celebrations in Fort Lauderdale, including a lively party at Elbo Bar, showed the damage to the 131-year-old trophy. Specifically, the main bowl of the Stanley Cup developed a crack, while the bottom was dented. Eyewitness accounts and social media posts reportedly captured players pouring beer from the Cup onto jubilant fans, a tradition that, while spirited, perhaps contributed to the wear and tear.
Damage to the iconic Cup isn’t entirely surprising given its nature and the intensity of championship celebrations. Weighing 37 pounds and made of a silver and nickel alloy, the trophy is relatively malleable, making it susceptible to dings and dents when handled with championship-level enthusiasm.
Fortunately, the damage is not permanent. A spokesperson for the Hockey Hall of Fame confirmed that the trophy’s dedicated custodians, known as the “Keepers of the Cup,” are aware of the situation. Plans are already in motion to repair the crack and dent, ensuring the Stanley Cup will be in proper condition for the Panthers’ planned victory parade this Sunday.
This isn’t the first time sports hardware has suffered “injuries” during celebratory moments. Back in 2011, Spanish soccer club Real Madrid’s Copa del Rey trophy was famously dropped from a double-decker bus during festivities and subsequently run over.
But for the Stanley Cup, specifically, this latest incident is just another colorful chapter in its long and quirky history of mishaps. The trophy has seen it all, from being submerged in swimming pools and the Atlantic Ocean to experiencing various forms of player-induced chaos over the decades.
Memorable incidents from the Cup’s past include:
The Roadside Stop (1924): The Montreal Canadiens famously forgot the Cup on the side of the road after their car stalled on a hill following a win, only realizing their mistake once they reached the top.
The Equine Encounter (1994): Kentucky Derby winner Go For Gin was photographed eating out of the Cup while at Belmont Park after the New York Rangers’ victory.
A Messy Moment (2008): Detroit Red Wings player Kris Draper placed his baby daughter in the Cup for a photo opportunity, only for her to use the legendary bowl as an impromptu toilet.
A Unique Baptism (Recent): Pittsburgh Penguins forward Josh Archibald used his time with the Cup to baptize his three-week-old son, Brecken, within the trophy’s bowl.
Even in recent years, the Cup has sustained damage, like when the Tampa Bay Lightning dropped it during their 2021 boat parade or the Colorado Avalanche dented it on the ice right after their 2022 victory.
The cracked and dented state of the Cup following the Panthers’ party serves as a fresh reminder that while it’s one of sports’ most revered symbols, it also endures the raw, unfiltered joy of victory – making its journey arguably the most storied (and occasionally roughest) in professional sports.
