LAKE PLACID, N.Y. -- The most iconic trophy in sports, the Stanley Cup^®, will appear at upcoming ECAC Men’s Hockey Championship on Friday, March 16 at both the 4 and 7:30 p.m. semifinal games.

Fans can see the Stanley Cup^® up close and take photos with the National Hockey League (NHL^®) championship trophy at the 1980 Rink-Herb Brooks Arena, on the main concourse near section 19, during both ECAC Men’s Hockey Championship Semifinal games.

The Stanley Cup^®, the oldest trophy in North American professional sports, celebrated its 125^th anniversary last year. The original bowl was donated in 1892 by Lord Stanley of Preston. In 1924, engraving player names became an annual tradition. It’s the only trophy in professional sports that records the names of champions who have won it. There is only one authentic Stanley Cup^®, and in 1926 the trophy was competed for by only NHL teams. The same trophy that today’s champions hoist over their heads is the same that will be available for fans to see, touch, and get their photo taken with.

In addition to the Stanley Cup^®, three NHL individual trophies will be on site for fans to see:

The Hart Memorial Trophy is awarded annually to the "player adjudged most valuable to his team" in the NHL  as selected by the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association. The Hart Memorial Trophy was presented to the NHL in 1960 after the original Hart Trophy was retired to the Hockey Hall of Fame. The original Hart Trophy was donated to the NHL in 1924 by Dr. David A. Hart, the father of Cecil Hart, former manager-coach of the Montreal Canadiens. Wayne Gretzky won the Hart Trophy for eight consecutive seasons with Edmonton Oilers, from 1980-81 through 1986-87.The latest winner is Connor McDavid of the Edmonton Oilers.

The Art Ross Trophy is awarded “to the player who leads the league in points at the end of the regular season.”  Art Ross, former manager-coach of the Boston Bruins, presented the trophy to the NHL in 1948.  The first Art Ross Trophy recipient was Elmer Lach of the Montreal Canadiens in 1947-48. The latest winner is Connor McDavid of the Edmonton Oilers.

The Vezina Trophy is awarded “to the goalkeeper adjudged to be the best at this position,” as selected by the General Managers of the 31 NHL Clubs. It is named in memory of Georges Vezina, goaltender of the Montreal Canadiens from 1910-11 until 1925-26, who died in 1926 of tuberculosis. The Trophy was first awarded during the 1926-27 season to George Hainsworth of the Montreal Canadiens. Until the 1981-82 season, the trophy went to the goaltender(s) of the team allowing the fewest goals during the regular season. Now, the William M. Jennings Trophy is awarded for this. The most recent winner of the Vezina Trophy is the Columbus Blue Jackets' Sergei Bobrovsky.

NHL, the NHL Shield and the word mark and image of the Stanley Cup are registered trademarks of the National Hockey League. NHL and NHL team marks are the property of the NHL and its teams. All Rights Reserved. Used with permission.

Princeton and Cornell open the 2018 ECAC Hockey Men’s Championship, Friday, at 4:05 p.m., when they take to the famed Olympic Center ice. The winner of this game faces the winner of Friday night’s second semi-final contest, pitting defending champions Harvard against Clarkson. The Crimson and Golden Knights face off at 7:35 p.m.

The championship game is slated for Saturday night, at 7:35 p.m., and the tournament’s champion receives an automatic bid into the 2018 NCAA Men’s Ice Hockey National Championship Tournament.

All-Session Tickets are currently on sale at the Olympic Center Box Office and online at http://www.whiteface.com/events/ecac-mens-hockey-championship.

For more information about all of the events taking place on ORDA’s Olympic venues, visit www.WhitefaceLakePlacid.com.

NHL and the word mark and image of the Stanley Cup are registered trademarks of the National Hockey League. All Rights Reserved.  Used with permission.

-- ORDA --

Established in 1982, the New York State Olympic Regional Development Authority (ORDA) was created by the State of New York to manage the facilities used during the 1980 Olympic Winter Games at Lake Placid. ORDA operates Whiteface, Belleayre and Gore Mountain ski areas; the Olympic Sports Complex at Mt. Van Hoevenberg; the Olympic speed skating oval, Olympic jumping complex and Olympic arena. As host to international and national championships, the Authority has brought millions of athletes, spectator and participants to the region, resulting in significant economic development.