Prince of Wales Trophy facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Prince of Wales Trophy |
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| Sport | Ice hockey |
| Given for | Eastern Conference playoff champions of the National Hockey League |
| History | |
| First award | 1926 |
| First winner | Montreal Canadiens |
| Most wins | Montreal Canadiens (25) |
| Most recent | Florida Panthers (4) |
The Prince of Wales Trophy is a special award in hockey given out by the National Hockey League (NHL). It's named after Prince Edward, who later became King Edward VIII. This trophy has been given for different achievements throughout its long history.
The trophy was first given out on December 15, 1925. It went to the winner of the first game played in Madison Square Garden. That year was also the last time the Stanley Cup was not only for NHL teams. So, the trophy was given to the NHL playoffs champion that season. It was also given to the playoff champions of the two seasons before that.
Over the years, the Wales Trophy has been awarded for different things. It went to the champion of the American Division (1927–1938). Then it was given to the NHL regular season champions (1938–1967). Since the NHL expanded in 1967, it has been like the Clarence S. Campbell Bowl. It uses the same rules but for the opposite group of teams.
The Wales Trophy has been awarded to the East Division regular season champions (1967–1974). Then it went to the Wales Conference regular season champions (1974–1981). After that, it was for the Wales Conference playoff champions (1981–1993). Since 1993, it has been given to the Eastern Conference playoff champions.
In 2021, the playoff rules were changed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Wales Trophy was given to the Tampa Bay Lightning. They won it after beating the New York Islanders in the Stanley Cup semifinals.
Contents
History of the Trophy
The Prince of Wales Trophy was first announced in December 1925. It was sponsored by Prince Edward, who was the Prince of Wales at the time. The trophy has the Prince of Wales' feathers and the shield from the Royal Coat of Arms of Canada. It cost $2,500.
The trophy was meant to be for the league champion, just like the O'Brien Cup. To introduce it, the trophy was first given to the winner of the first game at Madison Square Garden. This game was on December 15, 1925. The Montreal Canadiens won against the New York Americans (3-1).
The Canadiens kept the trophy until the end of that season. Then, it was officially given for its main purpose: to honor the NHL playoff champion. The Canadiens had also won the O'Brien Cup in 1923 and 1924. So, they had their name added to the Prince of Wales Trophy for those past seasons too.
The Prince of Wales Trophy was given to the NHL playoff champion in 1925 and 1926. The winning team would then play against the Western Hockey League (WHL) champion for the Stanley Cup. From 1927, the trophy went to the champion of the American Division of the NHL. The O'Brien Cup went to the Canadian Division champion. This continued until 1938. After that, the NHL went back to having just one division. The Wales Trophy then became the award for the team with the best record in the regular season.
When the NHL expanded in 1967, a new West Division was created. The Wales Trophy was then given to the team that finished first in the East Division during the regular season. In 1974, the league created two conferences. The trophy then went to the team with the best regular season record in the Wales Conference. This lasted until 1981.
The NHL changed its playoff rules so that the two conference playoff champions would play for the Stanley Cup. The Prince of Wales Trophy was then given to the Wales Conference playoff champions. In 1993, the Wales Conference was renamed the Eastern Conference. The Prince of Wales Trophy has been awarded to the Eastern Conference playoff champions ever since the 1993–94 season.
The Trophy Superstition
Many NHL players today have a superstition about the Wales Trophy. They believe that no player should touch or lift the Wales Trophy (for the Eastern Conference champion) or the Clarence S. Campbell Trophy (for the Western Conference champion) after winning the conference playoffs. These 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 conference trophy, the captain of the winning team usually just poses with it. They often look serious. Sometimes, the whole team poses too. However, some teams have ignored this superstition and lifted the conference trophies. Sometimes, they still went on to win the Stanley Cup. The Pittsburgh Penguins are a good example. They have touched the trophy many times and still won the Stanley Cup five times.
In the 2020–21 NHL season, the league changed its setup. This was due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The league was divided into four new divisions. Because of this, the semifinal round of the 2021 Stanley Cup playoffs was played between the winners of the divisional playoffs. At first, the trophy was not going to be given out. But later, it was decided that the trophy would go to the winner of the Stanley Cup semifinals series between the East and Central divisions. This ended up being the New York Islanders and the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Who Has Won the Trophy?
- Key
- * – This team no longer exists.
– This team also won the Stanley Cup that season.- a – Engraved in 1925–26.
First Winner
- December 15, 1925 – Montreal Canadiens (Canadiens 3, New York Americans 1)
NHL Playoff Champions (1925–1927)
| Season | Winner | Win # |
|---|---|---|
| 1925–26 | Montreal Maroons * |
1 |
| 1926–27 | Ottawa Senators * |
1 |
Eastern Conference Playoff Champions (1993–Present)
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| Season | Winner | Win # |
|---|---|---|
| 1993–94 | New York Rangers |
3 |
| 1994–95 | New Jersey Devils |
1 |
| 1995–96 | Florida Panthers | 1 |
| 1996–97 | Philadelphia Flyers | 3 |
| 1997–98 | Washington Capitals | 1 |
| 1998–99 | Buffalo Sabres | 3 |
| 1999–2000 | New Jersey Devils |
2 |
| 2000–01 | New Jersey Devils | 3 |
| 2001–02 | Carolina Hurricanes | 1 |
| 2002–03 | New Jersey Devils |
4 |
| 2003–04 | Tampa Bay Lightning |
1 |
| 2004–05 | Season cancelled due to the 2004–05 NHL lockout | |
| 2005–06 | Carolina Hurricanes |
2 |
| 2006–07 | Ottawa Senators | 1 |
| 2007–08 | Pittsburgh Penguins | 3 |
| 2008–09 | Pittsburgh Penguins |
4 |
| 2009–10 | Philadelphia Flyers | 4 |
| 2010–11 | Boston Bruins |
16 |
| 2011–12 | New Jersey Devils | 5 |
| 2012–13 | Boston Bruins | 17 |
| 2013–14 | New York Rangers | 4 |
| 2014–15 | Tampa Bay Lightning | 2 |
| 2015–16 | Pittsburgh Penguins |
5 |
| 2016–17 | Pittsburgh Penguins |
6 |
| 2017–18 | Washington Capitals |
2 |
| 2018–19 | Boston Bruins | 18 |
| 2019–20 | Tampa Bay Lightning |
3 |
| 2020–21 | Tampa Bay Lightning |
4 |
| 2021–22 | Tampa Bay Lightning | 5 |
| 2022–23 | Florida Panthers | 2 |
| 2023–24 | Florida Panthers |
3 |
| 2024–25 | Florida Panthers |
4 |
More About Hockey Awards
See also
In Spanish: Trofeo Príncipe de Gales para niños
