From Stadacona to the REM · Drawing 21 of 43
A Cup for Montréal
1893
In 1893, a Montréal team became the first to receive the Stanley Cup. Governor General Lord Stanley had donated the trophy for Canada’s champion hockey team. Players back then wore wool sweaters.
Look together
What is the cup resting on?
An idea to try
Invite the child to draw a trophy for an activity they enjoy. Together, decide what it could reward, such as helping others, perseverance or teamwork.
For the adult reading along
A little more to discover
Lord Stanley donated the trophy in 1892. The Montreal Amateur Athletic Association’s hockey club received the first award in 1893. This was the first recipient of this cup, rather than the first hockey contest or trophy. The event came before the NHL.
This page focuses on a shared award. The 1875 page explores an organized indoor game. The celebration is imagined, the bowl-shaped trophy is generic and unmarked, and none of the players is a portrait.
Sources and illustration notes (2)
An imagined rink celebration in 1893. Three adults and a child, unmarked sweaters, old skates and a small generic bowl trophy on a table; no league or team logos and no real players.
These links lead to other websites. Explore them with an adult. References identify the institution and the related lesson; some linked pages are in French.
- Hockey Hall of Fame - Stanley Cup HistoryDonation in 1892, Montréal’s first award in 1893 and changes to the trophy’s shape.
- Governor General of Canada - The Earl of DerbyLord Stanley’s role as Governor General and donor of an amateur hockey trophy.
Page prepared on November 7, 2026. Illustrations simplify places and scenes; they are not historical documents.
This drawing is from the book Québec’s Great Moments to Colour
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