1. Hilarious Historical Blunders
The Stanley Cup's engravings have taken a whimsical approach to accuracy. Take the 1981 New York Islanders triumph, which somehow managed a "NEW YORK ILANDERS." Jacques Plante's name enjoyed a different spelling on the Cup for each of the five consecutive Montreal Canadiens' victories.
Some typos stubbornly stick because they're part of the Cup's charm. Imagine the 1963 "TORONTO MAPLE LEAES" or the 1972 "BQSTQN BRUINS." The engravers aren't deliberately crafting a comedy of errors, though. The job is high-pressure; one slip and a player's name could morph into a lexical gymnastic.
A specifically odd incident involves Oilers' owner Peter Pocklington in 1984. Sneaky Pete decided his dad, Basil, deserved a spot among the champions. Basil's name got plastered with Xs when the NHL caught wind of the cheeky addition.
Corrections, when they happen, like the fix for Adam Deadmarsh in 1996, morph from rare privileges to small victories. Yet, certain mistakes linger, becoming affectionate quirks woven into hockey lore.
2. The 'Ilanders' Incident
The saga of the 'NEW YORK ILANDERS' is an epic that rivals any suspense thriller. Picture this: the Islanders, fresh off their 1980-81 Stanley Cup victory, eagerly anticipating their rightful place in history, only to be immortalized with a spelling faux pas. It's akin to naming your newborn "Voldemort" by accident.
The engraver had another three attempts at spelling it right as the Islanders kept winning until 1983. Thankfully, by then, "Islanders" had the front-row dictionary seat it so deserved.
The Ilanders' colossal typo hasn't just avoided correction but is cherished as a cornerstone in the annals of Stanley Cup history. Ask any fan or historian, and they'll tell you this goof is so audacious, it's kind of iconic. It continues to be a cause of laughter and a subtle nod to the chaos the real world often throws in our best-laid plans.
3. Sneaky Inclusions
Imagine wearing a disguise at an exclusive party, hoping nobody notices, and then getting caught red-handed. Well, that's Edmonton Oilers' former owner Peter Pocklington's sneaky tale in a nutshell! During the Oilers' 1984 championship celebration, Pocklington attempted to slip his father Basil's name onto the illustrious Stanley Cup. Perhaps he thought slipping an extra name in was as easy as sneaking another slice of pizza when nobody's watching. Wrong guess, Pete!
The NHL had their magnifying glasses out, ready to spot any shifty moves. Once Basil's accidental 'promotion' was noticed, it led to a monumental oopsie fix. Instead of the slick cover-up he probably hoped for, the NHL made sure Basil's name was replaced by 16 gloriously gaudy Xs. Talk about making a mark!
This wasn't just a gaffe—it was a historical tattoo. To this day, the Cup bears those permanent Xs like a badge of cheeky antics past. This whole caper added a whole new layer of intrigue and comedy to the Cup's legacy.
4. Correction Cowboy
Once upon a time, in the wild frontier of sports trophies, a new sheriff rode into town brandishing a hammer, a stencil, and a can-do attitude. Enter the Correction Cowboy, whose defining moment came in 1996 when Adam Deadmarsh's name galloped from the mistaken "Deadmarch" to its rightful accuracy. This correction wasn't just an act of alphabetical realignment but a seismic shift in how the Stanley Cup's posse of engravers approached their line of work.
In the years following, several names were called to the mat for refresher courses in proper spelling:
- Manny Legace: from "Lagace" to "Legace" (2002)
- Eric Staal: from "Staaal" to "Staal" (2006)
- Tomas Holmstrom: from "Homstrom" to "Holmstrom" (2008)
- Kris Versteeg: from "Vertseeg" to "Versteeg" (2010)
As engravers took steps towards accuracy, they turned what was a comedy of errors into a collection of happily-ever-afters. Now, don't get it twisted, the odd typo still sneaks onto the Cup here and there, winking at us, hinting that perfection is just a goal, not a destination.
5. Tradition Versus Technology
In a tech-driven world where everything from your fridge to your toothbrush is trying to outsmart you, the Stanley Cup remains delightfully old-school! Engraving those glorious, history-laden names by hand is like the Cup's version of karaoke night in a world that's gone Auto-Tune crazy.
Louise St. Jacques, the maestro behind the Cup's engravings since 1989, wields her hammer and stencil like a superhero armed with a chisel, diving into the task with the nerves of a cat in a room full of rocking chairs. One wrong ding, one errant etch, and suddenly "Connor McDavid" might become "Connor McDoodle."
"It demands a lot of concentration," says Ms. Jacques, who says mistakes are a constant source of anxiety. If the phone rings or somebody walks in, she says, "that can really do it to you."
This delightful dance of metal letters is fueled by a dedication to preserving the human element, bringing with it the kind of suspense only experienced when you're holding something without a backup copy. Unlike laser-etched rivals, which lack soul and storytelling, each human error gives the Cup a personality, a memorable tale to recount during its world tour escapades.
In choosing tradition over tech, the hockey universe embraces imperfection, preferring a legacy filled with the unique quirks of human handiwork. With each hand-etched year, the Cup whispers past the buzzes of the digital tide, reminding us that some things are just better with a personal touch—even if that touch sometimes spells "Islanders" as "Ilanders."
6. The Engraver's Experience
Imagine stepping into the shoes of an elite engraver, a maestro of metal, with the delicate pressure of inscribing history into silver without an eraser. Our protagonist here is Louise St. Jacques, a veteran engraver since 1989. Her toolkit? Not some hyper-advanced laser beam, oh no—Louise puts her faith in the good ol' stencil and hammer combo, with nerves of steel to match the glimmering surface she's tasked with perfecting.
Picture this: it's a peaceful day; you're at work, focused, channeling your inner Michelangelo. Suddenly, a phone rings, or a colleague casually decides today's the day to ask about your weekend escapades. Distraction! And just like that, there's the risk of "Sidney Crosby" transforming into "Sidney Cosbry"—a blunder destined for NHL trivia nights and comedic infamy.
Each engraving session demands intense concentration, akin to threading a needle during a coffee-fueled adrenaline rush. The pressure is palpable, the stakes high; after all, these names are history in the making, and each letter counts!
Louise, along with her colleagues, shares her trepidation as they embark on each engraving odyssey, knowing full well that history might not look kindly on mishaps (unless the humor quotient is through the roof!). Yet every successful inscription is a silent victory, a testament to the human resilience that continues to keep tradition alive in our ever-so-digital world.
As the Stanley Cup continues its journey through time, it stands as a testament to the delightful imperfections that make history memorable. These quirks and tales remind us that in a world striving for perfection, sometimes it's the little errors that bring us together in laughter and camaraderie.
- Albergotti R. Stanley Cup's typos and errors are hockey's inside joke. Wall Street Journal. 2010.
- Pelletier J. Stanley Cup engraving errors. Greatest Hockey Legends. 2010.
- Hockey Hall of Fame. Stanley Cup engraving errors. 2021.