Henri Richard holds the NHL record for most Stanley Cup championships. From 1956 to 1973, the legendary "Pocket Rocket" won 11 Stanley Cups, all with the Montreal Canadiens. Twice, in 1966 and in 1971, he scored the winning goal in the final game.

Richard's Stanley Cup victories began during his rookie season, 1955-56. That was also the start of the Canadiens' streak of five consecutive championships. Although the streak ended in 1960, Montreal and Richard won six more cups between 1964 and 1973.

In the 1973-74 season, Richard added another honor to his resume, the Bill Masterson Memorial Trophy. The trophy is given to the player who "best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey," according to the NHL. Richard was honored for his 20 years in the league and record 11 Stanley Cups.

Others Who Have Won Multiple Cups

Several other NHL players also have impressive Stanley Cup records:

Jean Beliveau won 10 Stanley Cups with the Canadiens from 1956 to 1971. His name is also on the cup another seven times as a member of Montreal's front office.

Another star of the Montreal Canadiens, Yvan Cournoyer won 10 Stanley Cups between 1965 and 1979.

Like Richard and Beliveau, Claude Provost won his first cup in 1956. He won nine Stanley Cups with the Canadiens, the last coming in 1969.

Red Kelly is the most successful NHL player who never played for Montreal. He won eight Stanley Cups with Detroit and Toronto between 1950 and 1967.

Before beginning a long career as a coach, Jacques Lemaire won eight Stanley Cups with the Montreal Canadiens from 1968 to 1979.

Maurice "Rocket" Richard, older brother of Henri Richard, won eight Stanley Cups during his legendary career with the Canadiens, between 1944 and 1960.

The Cup Was Elusive for One Longtime Player

At the opposite end of the scale is the player with perhaps the greatest hard-luck story: Phil Housley. From 1982 to 2003, Housley played 1,495 regular season games with Buffalo, Winnipeg, St. Louis, Calgary, New Jersey, Washington, Chicago, and Toronto. But he never lifted the Cup.

That makes him the leader in games played without ever winning a Stanley Cup.

Stanley Cup Origins

In 1888, the Governor-General of Canada, Lord Stanley of Preston—his sons and daughter enjoyed hockey—attended his first hockey competition, the Montreal Winter Carnival tournament. He was impressed with the game.

In 1892, Stanley saw that there was no recognition for the best team in Canada, so he purchased a silver bowl for use as a trophy. The Dominion Hockey Challenge Cup (which later became known as the Stanley Cup) was first awarded in 1893 to the Montreal Hockey Club, champions of the Amateur Hockey Association of Canada. The Stanley Cup continues to be awarded annually to the National Hockey League's championship team.