The Team That Lost the Stanley Cup (Literally)

The Stanley Cup has been through a lot — dropped, dented, and even used as a dog’s water bowl — but one of its most legendary misadventures happened way back in 1924, thanks to the Montreal Canadiens.

That year, the Canadiens had just won the Stanley Cup Final against the Calgary Tigers, marking their second championship in franchise history. Naturally, a celebration was in order.

On their way to a victory dinner at the home of team owner Leo Dandurand, the players (who were traveling by car) had to pull over to fix a flat tire. While changing it, they carefully set the Stanley Cup on the side of the road. Job done, they hopped back into the car and drove off … leaving behind hockey’s most prized trophy.

Realizing their mistake upon arrival, they rushed back to the scene. Thankfully, the Cup was still there, waiting patiently on the roadside, untouched and unharmed.

This wasn’t the first (or last) time the Cup found itself in trouble. Over the years, it’s been:

• Dropped to the bottom of Mario Lemieux’s swimming pool.
• Used as a champagne cooler at wild parties.
• A drinking bowl for players’ dogs.
• Lost in a canal by the 1905 Ottawa Senators.

Through it all, the Cup survives, collecting dents, dings, and unforgettable stories along the way.