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2007 file photo of the Stanley Cup. Mike Stobe/Getty Images

By Mark Memmott

The "Ilanders," "Leaes" and "Bqstqn" have all won the National Hockey League's famed Stanley Cup -- if you trust the spelling on that historic trophy.

On today's All Things Considered, co-host Michele Norris speaks with The Wall Street Journal's Reed Albergotti, who reported recently about the numberous ... er ... numerous misspellings on hockey's most coveted trophy.

The mistakes may be troublesome to those players who see their names wrongly etched, but Albergotti says many hockey fans kind of like the fact that imperfections are part of the Cup's heritage. After all, it's a game where the best players are proud to of their gap-toothed smiles.


Misspellings are only part of the Cup's legend.

There are the stories of what players have done with it each summer, when the winners get to take it home with them.

As the Hockey Hall of Fame website reports, the Cup has drop-kicked into Ottawa's Rideau Canal, left by the side of the road in a snow bank, stolen, used as a baptismal font -- and had more than its share of beer and champagne.

Before finishing, we should note that fans of some teams would be more than happy to have a typo or two on the Cup if it meant their favorite boys had finally captured the league title. Right, fellow Sabers ... I mean, Sabres ... fans?

Game six of the Stanley Cup finals between the Detroit Red Wings and Pittsburgh Penguins is tonight at 8 p.m. ET. Detroit leads the series 3-2.

To find an NPR station near you that broadcasts ATC, click here.

categories: Sports

3:38 - June 9, 2009

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