Clarence S. Campbell Bowl facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Clarence S. Campbell Bowl
Sport	Ice hockey
Given for	Western Conference playoff champions of the National Hockey League
History
First award	1968
First winner	Philadelphia Flyers
Most wins	Edmonton Oilers (8)
Most recent	Edmonton Oilers (8)

The Clarence S. Campbell Bowl, often called the Campbell Bowl, is a special team award in the National Hockey League (NHL). It's named after Clarence Campbell, who was the president of the NHL from 1946–47 to 1976–77.

This award has been given for different achievements over the years. It's like the Prince of Wales Trophy, which is given for similar achievements in the other part of the league. The Campbell Bowl has been awarded to the champions of the West Division (1967–1974), the Campbell Conference regular season (1974–1981), the Campbell Conference playoffs (1981–1993), and the Western Conference playoffs (1993–2020, 2021–present).

In 2021, because of changes due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Campbell Bowl was given to the Montreal Canadiens. They won it after beating the Vegas Golden Knights in the Stanley Cup semifinals.

History of the Campbell Bowl

Henrik Sedin of the Vancouver Canucks accepts the Campbell Bowl in 2011.

The NHL teams gave the Clarence S. Campbell Bowl to honor Clarence Campbell. He was the League President when the NHL expanded in 1967–68. This trophy has always been similar to the Prince of Wales Trophy. Both awards recognize success in different parts of the league.

From 1967–68 to 1973–74, the Campbell Bowl went to the team that finished first in the West Division during the regular season. In 1974–75, the NHL changed its setup. The award then went to the team with the best regular season record in the Campbell Conference. This continued until 1980–81.

Starting in 1981–82, the trophy was given to the Campbell Conference playoff champions. Then, in 1993–94, the Campbell Conference became the Western Conference. Since then, the trophy has been awarded to the champions of the Western Conference playoffs.

The Trophy Superstition

Many NHL players have a tradition about the Campbell Bowl and the Prince of Wales Trophy. They believe that no player should touch or lift these trophies after winning the conference playoffs. Players feel that the Stanley Cup is the only true championship trophy. They think it should be the only one they lift.

Instead of touching the trophy, the winning team's captain usually just poses with it. Sometimes, the whole team poses too. They often look serious in the pictures. However, some teams have ignored this tradition. They lifted the conference trophy and still went on to win the Stanley Cup.

The 2021 Season Change

The NHL changed its setup for the 2020–21 NHL season because of the COVID-19 pandemic. They temporarily stopped using conferences. Instead, the league was split into four temporary divisions.

The semifinal round of the 2021 Stanley Cup playoffs was played between the winners of these divisional playoffs. At first, the Campbell Bowl was not going to be awarded that year. But the playoff results created a clear path. Teams from the North and West Divisions played each other. All the remaining Western Conference teams were in this half of the playoffs.

So, the NHL decided to award the Campbell Bowl to the winner of that semifinal series. The Montreal Canadiens, an Eastern Conference team, won this unique Campbell Bowl. They beat the Vegas Golden Knights. This was the Canadiens' first Campbell Bowl win.

Winners of the Campbell Bowl

Key

• – Team also won the Stanley Cup that season

West Division Regular Season Champions (1967–1974)

Season	Winner	Win #
1967–68	Philadelphia Flyers	1
1968–69	St. Louis Blues	1
1969–70	St. Louis Blues	2
1970–71	Chicago Black Hawks	1
1971–72	Chicago Black Hawks	2
1972–73	Chicago Black Hawks	3
1973–74	Philadelphia Flyers	2

Campbell Conference Regular Season Champions (1974–1981)

Season	Winner	Win #
1974–75	Philadelphia Flyers	3
1975–76	Philadelphia Flyers	4
1976–77	Philadelphia Flyers	5
1977–78	New York Islanders	1
1978–79	New York Islanders	2
1979–80	Philadelphia Flyers	6
1980–81	New York Islanders	3

Campbell Conference Playoff Champions (1981–1993)

Season	Winner	Win #
1981–82	Vancouver Canucks	1
1982–83	Edmonton Oilers	1
1983–84	Edmonton Oilers	2
1984–85	Edmonton Oilers	3
1985–86	Calgary Flames	1
1986–87	Edmonton Oilers	4
1987–88	Edmonton Oilers	5
1988–89	Calgary Flames	2
1989–90	Edmonton Oilers	6
1990–91	Minnesota North Stars	1
1991–92	Chicago Blackhawks	4
1992–93	Los Angeles Kings	1

Western Conference Playoff Champions (1993–2020)

Season	Winner	Win #
1993–94	Vancouver Canucks	2
1994–95	Detroit Red Wings	1
1995–96	Colorado Avalanche	1
1996–97	Detroit Red Wings	2
1997–98	Detroit Red Wings	3
1998–99	Dallas Stars	2
1999–2000	Dallas Stars	3
2000–01	Colorado Avalanche	2
2001–02	Detroit Red Wings	4
2002–03	Mighty Ducks of Anaheim	1
2003–04	Calgary Flames	3
2004–05	Season cancelled due to the 2004–05 NHL lockout
2005–06	Edmonton Oilers	7
2006–07	Anaheim Ducks	2
2007–08	Detroit Red Wings	5
2008–09	Detroit Red Wings	6
2009–10	Chicago Blackhawks	5
2010–11	Vancouver Canucks	3
2011–12	Los Angeles Kings	2
2012–13	Chicago Blackhawks	6
2013–14	Los Angeles Kings	3
2014–15	Chicago Blackhawks	7
2015–16	San Jose Sharks	1
2016–17	Nashville Predators	1
2017–18	Vegas Golden Knights	1
2018–19	St. Louis Blues	3
2019–20	Dallas Stars	4

Stanley Cup Semifinals (2020–2021)

Western Conference Playoff Champions (2021–Present)

Season	Winner	Win #
2021–22	Colorado Avalanche	3
2022–23	Vegas Golden Knights	2
2023–24	Edmonton Oilers	8

See also

In Spanish: Clarence S. Campbell Bowl para niños

• List of National Hockey League awards
• NHL Conference Finals
• Prince of Wales Trophy