Calder Cup

The Calder Cup is the playoff championship trophy of the American Hockey League. The second oldest such professional ice hockey playoff trophy after the NHL's Stanley Cup, it was first presented in 1937 to the Syracuse Stars.

The cup is named after Frank Calder, who was the first president of the National Hockey League. The Calder Memorial Trophy, which is awarded annually to the Rookie of the Year in the National Hockey League, was also named after Calder.

The cup is made of sterling silver and Brazilian mahogany.
In its current shape, it has a two-tiered square base with commemorative plaques for each of the AHL's 20 most recent champions - 12 on the bottom tier and 8 on the top tier. Each time a new championship plaque is added, the oldest plaque is retired and joins a display at the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto.
While on tour, an official keeper accompanies the Calder Cup. It is etiquette for the keeper to use white ceremonial gloves to carry and manipulate the trophy in public.
Currently, these duties are assigned to the AHL's Manager of Team Businesses Services, Nathan Costa of Springfield, Mass.

The Hershey Bears have won the Cup more times than any other team, with eleven victories in franchise history. The Cleveland Barons come in second with nine; the Springfield Indians/Kings are third with seven. Eight teams have won back-to-back championships; the Springfield Indians of 1960-62 is the only team to have won three straight Calder Cup championships.

On three occasions an AHL club has won the Calder Cup and its NHL affiliate also won the Stanley Cup. In both 1976 and 1977 the Montreal Canadiens and affiliates Nova Scotia Voyageurs won both trophies. In 1995, the New Jersey Devils and Albany River Rats achieved the same feat.

The playoff MVP is awarded the Jack A. Butterfield Trophy.