Stanley Cup band featuring the engraved names of its champions from the 1953-54 to 1964-65 seasons preserved at the Hockey Hall of Fame
BY: Kelly Masse, NHL Hall-of-Fame
TORONTO (December 19, 2018) – The Hockey Hall of Fame has placed on permanent display the recently retired Stanley Cup band featuring 12 past Stanley Cup champions from 1954 through to 1965. The recent band features the following teams:
This celebrated and historic band joins previously retired bands, the earliest dating back to the 1927-28 season. A new band was added on the bottom row of the Stanley Cup earlier this season to include the engraving of the 2017-2018 champions, the Washington Capitals. The next band to be removed and retired features the 1965-66 to 1977-78 Stanley Cup champions, and will take place in 2030.
Prior to the New York Rangers 1993-94 championship season and with no more space to accommodate the full rosters of future champions, the Stanley Cup Trustees resolved to maintain the profile of the iconic trophy which has witnessed its share of glory since the original bowl was retired along with the upper collar and various shaped barrel bands in 1957 (all of which are on permanent exhibition for hockey fans to view in the Esso Great Hall/Lord Stanley’s Vault at the Hockey Hall of Fame).