CUP KICKED INTO CANAL

In celebration of Canada’s 150th birthday, the Citizen is rolling out one fact each day for 150 days until July 1, highlighting the odd, the fascinating and the important bits of Ottawa history you might not know about.

Since the Stanley Cup was first awarded in 1893, it has been held by many of the NHL’s greatest players. It’s been filled with beer, champagne and God only knows what else. While details from a 1905 celebration remain a bit sketchy, the Cup was apparently drop-kicked by one of the victorious Ottawa Silver Seven players. Depending on which account you believe, the Cup bounced off the Rideau Canal ice or slid into the water. As the story goes, the boys partied on and the Cup was rescued the next day.