The NHL was formed in 1917 and the Stanley Cup awarded to its first champion in 1918. Previously the cup was awarded as the "Dominion of Canada Challenge Cup" and was awarded to the top amateur team in Canada starting in 1893 to Montreal HC.
As a side note the "winged wheel" of the Detroit logo was actually taken from the Montreal HC.
1893
Because Governor General of Canada (British) donated it to the best hockey team in Canada. In 1926 it was first awarded to the team which was the champion of the NHL
No one. The Stanley Cup was awarded for the first time in 1893.
it was first awarded in 1893, but in 1917 it was first awarded to the winner of the NHL
Montreal AAA
It is named after Frederick Arthur, first Lord Stanley of Preston, Governor General of Canada from 1888-1893, who donated the Cup as "a challenge cup which should be held from year to year by the champion hockey team in the dominion of Canada."
The Stanley Cup was first awarded to the Montreal Amateur Athletic Association on behalf of the affiliated Montreal Hockey Club, the champions of the Amateur Hockey Association of Canada (AHAC) in 1893, since they "defeated all comers during the late season, including the champions of the Ontario Association" (Ottawa).Diamond, Dan, ed. (1992). The Official National Hockey League Stanley Cup Centennial Book. Firefly Books. ISBN 1-895565-15-4.
Montreal HC (Hockey Club)
Montreal Hockey Club defeated the Ottawa Hockey Club 3-1
Stanley Matthews from England in 1956
the New York Rangers
hhh was awarded the world championship by Eric bichsoff after back then wwe champion wwe champion brock lesnar drafted to smackdown