Stanley Cup,trophy.

The Stanley Cup, one of the most recognizable trophies in sports, is legendary in Canada and parts of the United States. The Carolina Hurricanes won the National Hockey League championship and were awarded the cup two weeks ago.

But few know that it was from England that the Stanley Cup began its journey to representing athletic greatness.

Lord Frederick Arthur Stanley, born on Jan. 15, 1841, was the son of the 14th Earl of Derby, a three-time British prime minister, according to NHL.com, the league’s official Web site. He was appointed the governor-general of Canada in 1888.

His children were fond of Canadian winter sports, including hockey, and he was enamored sufficiently with the game that he ordered a trophy to be awarded to Canada’s top amateur team, according to NHL.com.

The trophy was bought in 1892 for 10 guineas (approximately $50 at the time) from Boodle and Denthorne Jewelers in London. The silver bowl, however, actually was crafted in Sheffield, England, and stood 7.28 inches tall and 11.42 inches in diameter.

Originally known as the Dominion Hockey Challenge Cup, the trophy became known as the Stanley Cup after it was awarded to the top professional team in Canada.

Now, with far more NHL teams in the United States than in Canada, the Stanley Cup is as easily found touring Florida or California as it is Nova Scotia or Alberta.

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