Where's the Stanley Cup?

The most coveted hardware in hockey has some stories to tell.

Where's the Stanley Cup?

Winning the Stanley Cup is the goal of every NHL player and team at the beginning of each season. Victory brings parties, parades, you name it. Look at the St. Louis Blues, the 2019 champions.

After the initial wave of euphoria wears off, Lord Stanley’s Cup doesn’t spend the remainder of the offseason in a trophy case. No, the Stanley Cup continues its victory lap as each player on the winning team gets a day to celebrate with the 35-pound championship trophy.

Players make the most of their 24 hours with Lord Stanley and hold nothing back. From strips clubs to Afghanistan to the shower, the Stanley Cup has had some amazing celebrations.

These are the most incredible.

25. A Canadian Flower Pot

Team: Montreal Wanderers

Year: 1907

Players: Various

The story: Toting around the Stanley Cup — which was first awarded in 1893 and every year since 1927 — is all fun and games until someone loses it. After the Montreal Wanderers won the Cup in 1907, they were ecstatic.

The team decided to take the Stanley Cup to a photographer’s home in Canada for a photo of the group with its prize. The group left without the hardware. The photographer’s wife found the Cup and turned it into a flower pot.

That was some pretty good home decor. Until the team remembered where they left the Cup.

24. A Breakfast Bowl

Team: Los Angeles Kings

Year: 2014

Player: Mike Richards

The story: While the Stanley Cup isn’t a traditional cup meant for drinking, many players have used the trophy in that way. Some players even have taken the idea a step further and used Lord Stanley’s Cup as a bowl for eating. Mike Richards is one of those players.

After winning the Cup with the Kings in 2014, Richards started his day by using the Cup as a bowl for his morning cereal.

For bonus points, Richards used miniature Stanley Cups for his dogs to eat alongside him.

23. The Howard Stern Show

Claude Lemieux almost gave some hockey fans a heart attack during his visit to "The Howard Stern Show" with the Stanley Cup in 1995.

Team: New Jersey Devils

Year: 1995

Player: Claude Lemieux

The story: What started out as a fun little prank turned into an unsettling moment for many hockey fans.

After the New Jersey Devils won the Cup in 1995, Claude Lemieux took the Stanley Cup with him to "The Howard Stern Show." Stern’s show was known for its crude humor so Lemieux and Stern decided to play a trick on listeners. They pretended Jackie "The Jokeman" Martling, a co-host of the show, defecated in the Cup.

But turning the Cup into a toilet is frowned upon most of the time (more on that later), so instead of laughing, fans were appalled. Fortunately, it was only a joke.

Mike Bolt, an official keeper of the Stanley Cup, confirmed no one went to the bathroom in the Cup.

"No. I've heard two things: They put chocolate pudding or a chocolate bar in it," Bolt told Maxim. "Personally, I don't know why someone would think that was funny. People drink and eat out of this thing. I would not have allowed it if I were around in '95 when it happened. I always say, you want to keep winning this, you respect it. ... But 99 percent of the guys, if not 100, are very respectful around it."

22. From Strip Clubs to the Local Auto Shop

Mark Messier and Wayne Gretzky — Edmonton Oilers team captain Wayne Gretzky, right, and Mark Messier hold up the Stanley Cup in 1988.

Team: Edmonton Oilers

Year: 1987

Player: Mark Messier

The story: Mark Messier is known for the crazy places he brought the Stanley Cup. We'll spare you the details of the "clubs" he was known to visit with the Cup — you can use your imagination for what kind of adult establishments those were, and in 1995, after Messier and the 1994 New York Rangers took the Cup to some unsavory places, the NHL instituted a new rule about places the Stanley Cup could not go. Strip clubs were one of those places.

But a decade before that, while playing for the Oilers, Messier dented the Cup in a hometown bar in St. Albert, Alberta (a suburb of Edmonton) and then brought it to a local auto shop for repairs. Yep. That’s right. Messier brought the Cup to a bar in his hometown where it was dented (no surprise there), but instead of letting the league decide the best way to repair it, Messier decided he’d take matters into his own hands.

That's why Messier is a legendary breed. Not only did he take the Cup into questionable establishments, he handed it off to the car shop to fix.

21. Horse Stables

Eddie Olczyk shows the Stanley Cup to Go for Gin and trainer Nick Zito in 1994.

Team: New York Rangers

Year: 1994

Player: Eddie Olczyk

The story: The Stanley Cup Final is to hockey as the Kentucky Derby is to horse racing. If you win the Stanley Cup, why hoard it all to yourself? That’s what Eddie Olczyk thought.

After winning the Cup with the Rangers in 1994, Olczyk took the Stanley Cup to the stables at Belmont Park in New York and let Kentucky Derby winner Go for Gin stick his face in it. Contrary to popular belief, the horse did not eat or drink out of the Cup.

The Cup also did not end up bringing the race horse good luck, and Go for Gin lost the Belmont, finishing second. Although the horse may not understand the significance of this experience, he’s still one lucky animal to meet Lord Stanley’s Cup.

20. Rocket Richard’s Two Front Teeth

1957 Montreal Canadiens — Maurice "Rocket" Richard, far right, celebrates winning the 1957 Stanley Cup with Montreal Canadien teammates and coach Hector "Toe" Blake.

Team: Montreal Canadiens

Year: 1957

Player: Maurice "Rocket" Richard

The story: Losing teeth on the ice is nothing new for hockey players. But having a dental problem away from the game is less common. Maurice "Rocket" Richard was an exception.

While having a celebratory drink out of the Stanley Cup, Richard chipped his two front teeth. As far as teeth-chipping stories go, this one-of-a-kind experience never will be forgotten.

19. Used as a Diaper

Detroit Red Wings center Kris Draper holds up the Stanley Cup after in 2008.

Team: Detroit Red Wings

Year: 2008

Player: Kris Draper

The story: While many players have taken a drink from the Stanley Cup, some people may not care all that much about its overall cleanliness. But Kris Draper forced us to consider the Cup's sanitary quality.

During his celebration, Draper did what any proud father would do and placed his baby inside the Cup for the perfect photo op. His daughter was less than impressed and decided she needed to use the bathroom — right inside the trophy.

"She pooped in the Cup. ... We had a pretty good laugh," Draper said in an interview. "I still drank out of it that night, so no worries."

18. A Hot Dog Holder on a Golf Course

Phil Kessel enjoys a few hot dogs with the Stanley Cup.

Team: Pittsburgh Penguins

Year: 2015

Player: Phil Kessel

The story: We tend to associate hot dogs and sports with baseball. Who doesn’t enjoy a good dog at the ballpark? Phil Kessel also likes his hot dogs on a golf course. Inside the Stanley Cup.

After winning the Cup with the Penguins, Kessel celebrated by taking Lord Stanley to the golf course. Sounds reasonable. The story takes an interesting turn, though. While there, Kessel filled the Cup with a few hot dogs.

A few years earlier, while he played with the Toronto Maple Leafs, some people criticized his love of hot dogs. So what better way to get back at his haters than eating a few links on the links in the Cup?

Where else was he going to put them anyway?

17. Bonfire

1962 Toronto Maple Leafs — Fire in the hole.

Team: Toronto Maple Leafs

Year: 1962

Players: Various

The story: You would think after the New York Rangers set the Stanley Cup on fire in 1940 (and put it out with players' urine), no one would consider bringing Lord Stanley around fire again. Think again.

The Toronto Maple Leafs were celebrating their victory with a bonfire after winning in 1962. We're sure you can guess what happened next — the Cup caught on fire. Just as the Rangers were charged with damages, so were the Leafs.

Apparently, the Stanley Cup and fire were an irresistible combination back in the day.

16. Beer Cup in the Streets of D.C.

Alexander Ovechkin — Drinks are in the Cup.

Team: Washington Capitals

Year: 2018

Player: Alex Ovechkin

The story: Who says you have to be limited to just one place when you have the Stanley Cup? Alex Ovechkin had fun parading the trophy from Las Vegas, to a Washington Nationals game, to his own bed.

But quite possibly, the most infamous place of all his celebrations was the streets of Washington, D.C., where the hockey star turned into a frat boy and drank beer out of the Cup upside down.

Ovechkin was just covering all his bases and giving as many fans as possible a chance to share in the jubilation.

15. The Rideau Canal

Team: Ottawa Silver Seven

Year: 1905

Player: Unknown

The story: The Stanley Cup was much smaller in the early 1900s making it easier to kick, if one so desired.

In the case of the Ottawa Silver Seven, one player decided to see if he could kick it in the Rideau Canal in Ontario. He was successful, and as a result, the Cup spent the night in the canal.

After the group finished celebrating, they were able to retrieve the Cup the next day.

14. The Rocky Mountains

Scott Niedermayer — Top of the world, ma.

Team: New Jersey Devils

Year: 2003

Player: Scott Niedermayer

The story: Most players are fortunate to win one Stanley Cup. Scott Niedermayer won the Cup four times — three times with the New Jersey Devils and once with the Anaheim Ducks.

After winning his third Cup with the Devils, the Hall of Famer rented a helicopter and took the Stanley Cup to the top of the Rocky Mountains in Colorado.

Once atop the mountain, Niedermayer captured the perfect memory for posterity.

13. The Bottom of a Pool

The Stanley Cup in Mario Lemieux's pool in 2009.

Team: Pittsburgh Penguins

Year: 1991

Player: Mario Lemieux

The story: You know what they say, sink or swim. In the case of the Stanley Cup, it's the former.

In 1991, members of the Pittsburgh Penguins took the Cup for a dip in the pool at Mario Lemieux's house. When the Cup hit the water, it sunk to the bottom.

The 1993 Canadiens attempted a similar feat in Patrick Roy's pool and confirmed "the Cup does not float."

That has not stopped the Penguins from swimming with the Cup more over the years, including in 2009.

12. A Helicopter Ride — and a Wedding Proposal

2004 Tampa Bay Lightning — The Tampa Bay Lightning celebrate winning the 2004 Stanley Cup.

Team: Tampa Bay Lightning

Year: 2004

Player: Andre Roy

The story: What could be more romantic than a wedding proposal on a helicopter with the Stanley Cup on board?

The Cup rode along in the helicopter with hockey legend Guy Lafleur, the Lightning’s Andre Roy and his future wife. Lafleur flew the helicopter while Roy popped the question to Karine Labelle, who accepted.

Now that's impressive.

11. Helsinki, Finland

Teemu Selanne with the Stanley Cup in Finland.

Team: Anaheim Ducks

Year: 2007

Player: Teemu Selanne

The story: Some players choose to keep their time with the Stanley Cup low key. Others like to keep the party going with as many people as possible.

Teemu Selanne brought the Cup back to his homeland of Finland for an event like no other. A stage was constructed in Helsinki to display the Stanley Cup, and thousands came to see it. Literally thousands.

If the Cup comes to town, wouldn't you want to see it, too?

10. Flight Deck of Space Shuttle Atlantis

Team: Boston Bruins

Year: 2011

Player: N/A

The story: The Stanley Cup has not been to outer space (yet), but it got a taste of a galaxy far away in 2011. After the Boston Bruins won the Cup, Charlie Jacobs, the team's principal and CEO of Delaware North, managed to get the coveted prize aboard the Space Shuttle Atlantis.

Delaware North, a global hospitality management and food service company, started operating Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex for NASA in 1995, and Atlantis made 33 missions to space.

Although the Stanley Cup only made it as far as the flight deck, how many people can say they’ve ever been on a space shuttle? The Cup has logged countless envious stops but sitting on the flight deck of a space shuttle is one of the best.

9. Red Square

Viacheslav Fetisov, Vladimir Konstantinov, Igor Larionov — Detroit Red Wings Viacheslav Fetisov, left, Vladimir Konstantinov, center, and Igor Larionov celebrate with the Stanley Cup in 1998.

Team: Detroit Red Wings

Year: 1997

Players: Igor Larionov, Slava Kozlov and Slava Fetisov

The story: The Stanley Cup has seen many countries, visited many landmarks and enjoyed plenty of parties. In 1997, it went to Russia for the first time.

Detroit Red Wings players Igor Larionov, Slava Kozlov and Slava Fetisov attempted to bring the Cup to the tomb where former Soviet leader Vladimir Lenin was laid to rest. Security guards stopped the athletes from entering, and they settled for Red Square.

Since then, the Cup has visited the nation many times with many NHL players coming from Russia.

8. The First Fire

The 1940 New York Rangers with the Stanley Cup.

Team: New York Rangers

Year: 1940

Players: Various

The story: The Rangers won their Stanley Cup in 1940 and paid off their mortgage on Madison Square Garden in the same season. The team celebrated by burning their mortgage papers — inside the Cup.

While it may have seemed like a great idea at the time, the Cup caught on fire, and the team allegedly tried to put the fire out by peeing on it. The team was charged for the repairs.

Some people say the Rangers were cursed afterward — the Curse of 1940 — because it took them 54 years to win a Cup again.

7. Niagara Falls

Patrick Kane — Who says you can't go home again?

Team: Chicago Blackhawks

Year: 2010

Player: Patrick Kane

The story: Visiting Niagara Falls is a dream for many, and Patrick Kane decided to make that dream come true for Lord Stanley’s Cup.

After winning the Cup for the Blackhawks in 2010 (the first of several, by the way), Kane decided to take a trip back home to Buffalo, New York, and stop for a visit at the breathtaking Niagara Falls.

Surrounded by family and friends, Kane brought the Cup to the Hurricane Deck. Niagara Falls, by itself, provides a beautiful Kodak moment. What could be better than adding in the Stanley Cup?

6. Afghanistan

Stanley Cup in Afghanistan — The Stanley Cup at the Kandahar base in Afghanistan in 2007.

Teams: Various

Year: 2007

Players: Various

The story: Canada's chief of defense and 19 former NHL players traveled to Afghanistan and brought the Stanley Cup.

The 2007 visit to Kandahar was the trophy’s first visit to a live military zone. While there, Canadian and American troops were given the chance to have their photos taken with the trophy and play three ball hockey games against NHL legends, including Bob Probert, Dave "Tiger" Williams and Ron Tugnutt.

"It's our duty to support our men and women over here," Williams told CBC. They've got a tough job."

5. Stanley Cup Margaritas on 'Jimmy Kimmel Live'

Alec Martinez, Justin Williams and Jimmy Kimmel — Margaritas, anyone?

Team: Los Angeles Kings

Year: 2014

Players: Justin Williams and Alex Martinez

The story: Jimmy Kimmel often hosts big-name celebrities and guests on his weeknight talkshow, "Jimmy Kimmel Live."

So after the Los Angeles Kings won the Stanley Cup in 2014, Alec Martinez and Conn Smythe winner Justin Williams brought the Cup on the show.

And not only did the Cup make an appearance, but Williams and Martinez drank margaritas out of it live during their appearance. Viva the Cup.

4. Bled Lake in Slovenia

Team: Los Angeles Kings

Year: 2012

Player: Anzie Kopitar

The story: The Stanley Cup is royalty in the United States. And the Cup gets the the royal treatment in other parts of the world as well.

In 2012, after Anzie Kopitar became the first Slovenian to win the Cup, he traveled back to his homeland with Lord Stanley, giving the trophy its first tour of Slovenia. Kopitar took the Cup on a wooden gondola across Bled Lake to Castle Bled and posed for many photos along the way.

"[The trip] was like Christmas and my birthday all wrapped together," Kopitar told the Los Angeles Times.

3. A Baptism in Pitea, Sweden

Tomas Holmstrom holds the Stanley Cup after the Red Wings won the NHL championship in 2008.

Team: Detroit Red Wings

Year: 2008

Player: Thomas Holstrom

The story: When most people get baptized, they usually do so in a traditional location such as a small pool inside a church or even outside in a body of water. Why not break the mold and try something different?

Tomas Holmstrom traveled with the Cup to Pitea, Sweden, and made it a part of his cousin’s baptism. At just 2 months old, little Ava Felicia Holstrom was baptized inside the Stanley Cup. Yes, inside the Cup. She was the second person baptized in the Cup, after Colorado Avalanche defenseman Sylvain Lefebrve had one of his children baptized in the cup in 1996.

Since then, the Cup has been used for another baptism in 2017, as Penguins player Josh Archibald baptized his 3-week-old son.

Not everyone's a fan of the idea — they think it's disrespectful to the Cup.

"I know the commenters were hockey fans, but the overwhelming message was that the baptism was highly inappropriate and disrespectful," Kathy Schiffer, author of the Seasons of Grace blog wrote in 2011. "Not to the Sacrament of Baptism, mind you. No, a majority of sports fans seemed to feel that the baptism was disrespectful to the trophy."

2. The Shower

Steve Yzerman won three Stanley Cups in his Hall of Fame career.

Team: Detroit Red Wings

Year: 1997

Player: Steve Yzerman

Backstory: Steve Yzerman was excited to win the first Stanley Cup of his career. After partying all night with friends and family, the Red Wings captain and future Hall of Famer took the Cup home with him.

While most players would have put the Cup on the kitchen table or counter, Yzerman took the Cup into the shower with him.

No doubt both Yzerman and the Cup needed a good shower after a long night of celebration.

1. Side of the Road in Montreal, Canada

Team: Montreal Canadiens

Year: 1924

Players: Group

The story: A group of Canadiens piled into a team car with the Stanley Cup and head toward Montreal to celebrate. On the way, the car got a flat tire.

While changing the tire, the team put the Cup on the side of the road to lighten the load. They were so excited to have the tire changed they drove off without the Stanley Cup, leaving it stranded on the side of the road.

The players returned and found the Cup later, in the snow, somewhere between Montreal and Ottawa.

Where will the Stanley Cup go next?