The following was taken from the WCHA Yearbook/Media Guide for 1991-1992.
The striking MacNaughton Cup, a magnificent 77-year-old trophy that is
larger than the National Hockey League's famed Stanley Cup, is symbolic of the
toughest college hockey league in the world - the Western Collegiate Hockey
Association. It is the much sought-after prize that, each year, awaits the
lucky winner of the WCHA regular season championship. It is a trophy that
equates with consistency, teamwork and outstanding play throughout the course
of the season.
The MacNaughton Cup, which stands nearly three-feet high and weighs some
40 pounds, is handcrafted of pure silver. It is extremely valuable, being
insured for $35,000.00.
The Cup has been in existence and associated with amateur hockey in
America since 1914. It has traveled a long and winding road since its initial
purchase in 1913 by the Calumet (Michigan) and Hecla Mining Company, but
officially settled into a home with the WCHA in 1951.
In 1913, James MacNaughton, then president of Calumet and Hecla, Inc. and
an avid supporter of amateur ice hockey, authorized the president of the
American Hockey Association to purchase a cup - he said the price didn't
matter - and present it to the Association's championship team at the end of
the season. The first winner, incidentally, was a team from the Cleveland
(Ohio) Athletic Club.
The MacNaughton Cup remained with the American Hockey Association until
1932. From 1933 to 1950, the Cup was fought for only by semi-pro and
intermediate hockey aggregations in Michigan's Copper Country.
Then in 1951, the prized Cup was donated by Calumet and Hecla, Inc.,
through the generosity of Mr. and Mrs. Endicott R. Lovell, to the
newly-founded Western Intercollegiate Hockey League. Lovell, president of the
company at that time and the son-in-law of James MacNaughton, was another
ardent supporter of amateur ice hockey.
The Western Intercollegiate Hockey League - a forerunner of the WCHA -
chose - in the original spirit - to award the trophy to its regular season
champion. At that time, the WIHL consisted of Michigan Tech, Colorado College,
Denver, Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota and North Dakota.
The MacNaughton Cup remained a part of the WIHL until it was disbanded in
March, 1958 for one year. There was no league play in 1958-59 (though most of
the WIHL teams played home-and-home schedules), but in 1959-60, the seven
original WIHL teams resumed formal competition under the new name of the
Western Collegiate Hockey Association.
Up until the 1981-82 season, the Cup was awarded to the WCHA's regular
season champion - with the exception of 1962, 1963, 1964 and 1965 when it went
to the league playoff champion.
When Michigan Tech University left the WCHA to join the CCHA in 1981-82,
they took the MacNaughton Cup with them and presented it to the winner of the
CCHA's regular season. That situation remained for three years until Tech
applied for and was granted, re-admission into the WCHA effective with the
1984-85 season.
Carol
U of M 1991-1992 WCHA CHAMPIONS!!!!
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