The Stanley Cup has the most unique history of any sports trophy. With each championship player getting a day to indulge with this iconic 32-pound prize, the Cup has witnessed it all. From wild celebrations to outrageous pranks—and even bathroom mishaps—here are 15 of its most unforgettable misadventures!
Jimmy Fallon’s Epic Keg Stand
After the Washington Capitals won their first Stanley Cup, Alex Ovechkin and Braden Holtby took the trophy to The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon. They and jockey Mike Smith drank from the Cup, but that wasn’t enough. Fallon got the whole experience with a televised keg stand.
The Stanley Cup’s Floral Detour
1907 saw the Stanley Cup won by the Montreal Wanderers and left at a photographer’s place for a photo op. When they returned, they discovered the Cup was being used as a flower pot for geraniums. Apparently, someone thought the Cup needed a bit of gardening before it was retrieved.
Yzerman’s Shower Stunt
Some players do quirky things with the Stanley Cup, but taking it to the shower? That’s next-level. After winning the Cup, Detroit Red Wings legend Steve Yzerman decided to share a steamy moment with the trophy. Who knows why, but you get to make the rules when you’re captain.
Sylvain Lefebvre & The Cup’s Holy Moment
Imagine getting baptized in the Stanley Cup! That’s what the Colorado Avalanche defenseman did for his baby girl after winning in 1996. Usually tied to wild celebrations, the Cup became a vessel for a sacred moment. Controversial or not, it was one of the classiest uses of the trophy.
Abandoned on the Roadside
Sometimes people forget their keys or phone, but the Stanley Cup? In 1924, after the Montreal Canadiens won, they left the trophy on the side of the road. After changing a tire during their victory drive, they sped off without the Cup! They quickly returned and found it still waiting.
The Time It Went To Battle
In 2007, the Stanley Cup found itself in the middle of a war zone, making its first-ever visit to Kandahar, Afghanistan. The trophy’s surprise tour was meant to boost troop morale, and it did. Though the sight of the Cup dodging bullets and bombs was definitely a new kind of hockey misadventure!
Whoops! The Lord Stanley’s Cup Vanished
Was the Stanley Cup safe at the Hockey Hall of Fame? Not quite. It was taken from the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1970 and vanished without a trace, sparking a massive search. Thanks to an anonymous tip, the Cup was miraculously recovered seven years later, wrapped in a surprising disguise.
Almost Burned to Smithereens
1962, the Toronto Maple Leafs celebrated their Stanley Cup win with a bonfire. Things went awry when the Cup accidentally fell into the flames, causing significant damage. The team had to take responsibility for the repairs, restoring the trophy after nearly turning it into ashes during the party.
Giddy Up! Horses Dine Out of the Stanley Cup
Eddie Olczyk traded the rink for the racetrack in 1994. After winning the Stanley Cup, he took it to his family’s horse farm, where it sat beside grazing horses. For extra luck, the Cup also rubbed elbows—or hooves—with his Belmont Stakes pick, Go For Gin.
The Cup’s Daring Dive Disaster
The Cup has taken many dives into pools, but this one was especially memorable. Guy Carbonneau tried tossing it into a pool from the balcony of Pantera’s Vinnie Paul’s home. The throw fell short, and the Cup struck the pool’s edge, resulting in a noticeable dent. It must have hurt.
It Also Went Deep Sea Diving
The Stanley Cup once took a dip in the Atlantic Ocean. In 1991, Ulf Dahlén, eager to share his triumph, decided the best way to commemorate the win was to submerge it in the salty depths. Luckily, the Cup survived its underwater adventure, albeit with a few extra salt stains.
A Makeover and a Tattoo
Hearing a rattling inside the Stanley Cup, Phil Bourque took it apart and discovered repairers had etched their names inside. Seizing the opportunity, he added his own message: “Phil Bourque, Pittsburgh Penguins, 90-91, Enjoy it!” He became the only player with his name inside and outside the Cup.
The Ultimate Stripper Pole
Lord Stanley’s Cup went with Mark Messier to a strip club in New York. While celebrating, he put the trophy on stage as a makeshift pole for the dancers, filled it with champagne, and drank from it. The Cup was left behind, as recounted by a mob informant.
Doubling as a Diaper or Potty Trainer?
Legend has it that Kris Draper once put his newborn daughter in the Stanley Cup, and she pooped inside it. This potty training incident is wild, considering how players use the Cup for drinks and food. No worries, though—Draper cleaned it up and enjoyed drinking from it that night.
The Legend of the Fire That Sparked a Curse
The Rangers won the Stanley Cup and paid off Madison Square Garden’s mortgage in 1940. Celebrating, they set the mortgage papers on fire in the Cup. It got out of hand, and they had to pee on it to extinguish them. Angered, the hockey gods cursed them with a championship drought for 54 years.
The 15 Most Outrageous Misuses of the Stanley Cup in Hockey History