Which club won the first Stanley Cup in 1893?

The Montreal Hockey Club won the first Stanley Cup in 1893.

The trophy was then called the Dominion Hockey Challenge Cup. Donated by Lord Stanley of Preston, Canada’s governor general, it was awarded to the top-ranked amateur hockey club rather than decided through a modern playoff tournament. Montreal Hockey Club finished first in the Amateur Hockey Association of Canada standings with a 7–1–0 record.

The season ended on March 17, 1893, and the trophy was formally presented on May 15. There was no Stanley Cup Final as fans know it today: the champion was determined by regular-season standing, with disputes and league decisions helping confirm Montreal’s title. The club was associated with the Montreal Amateur Athletic Association, which initially held the Cup before the hockey club received it. Ottawa Hockey Club was a prominent early rival, but it finished behind Montreal that season. The Toronto Arenas did not win until 1918, and the Quebec Bulldogs’ championships came much later.