Clarkson Cup
Sport | Ice hockey |
---|---|
Awarded for | Canadian women's hockey championship: National Canadian Women's Championship (2009–2011) CWHL champion (2012–2019) |
Local name | Coupe Clarkson (French) |
Country | Canada |
History | |
First award | 2006 |
Editions | 12 |
Final award | 2019 |
First winner | Team Canada |
Most wins | Les Canadiennes de Montréal (4) |
Most recent | Calgary Inferno |
The Clarkson Cup (French: La Coupe Clarkson) is an ice hockey trophy awarded to Canada's national women's champions. Commissioned by former Governor General Adrienne Clarkson, the trophy was first unveiled in July 2006 when Clarkson ceremoniously presented it to the Canadian national women's team. Owing to a rights dispute with the artists who designed the trophy, it was not officially awarded until 2009, when it became, as intended, the award for top women's club team. From 2012 to 2019, it was exclusively awarded to the winner of the Canadian Women's Hockey League (CWHL). In Canada, it has been considered the women's equivalent of the Stanley Cup.[1][2]
The Clarkson Cup has not been awarded since 2019, when the CWHL abruptly folded. Les Canadiennes de Montréal are the club with the most Clarkson Cup titles, with four, while the Calgary Inferno are the most recent title holders, winning the Cup in 2019.
History
Origins and rights dispute (2006–09)
When the
Clarkson awarded the trophy to the Canadian national team in a ceremony on July 10, 2006, in honour of the team's 2006 Olympic title; but, the expectation was that Hockey Canada would take over the trophy and award it to the country's top club team, which at the time meant it would be awarded to the champion of the NWHL.[1][5] However, the awarding of the Cup was delayed by the emergence of a rights dispute.[6] The artists who decorated the trophy retained a degree of ownership rights over it, and a financial settlement was not reached until March 2009.[7] The status of the Cup was further complicated when the NWHL folded in 2007. The Western Women's Hockey League (WWHL) survived the NWHL's dissolution, and the Canadian Women's Hockey League (CWHL) was launched in 2007 to replace the NWHL.[8] When the Clarkson Cup finally became available in 2009, it was awarded to the winners of a tournament featuring the top teams from the WWHL and the CWHL.[8]
National championship (2009–19)
Inter-league title (2009–11)
The Clarkson Cup was first awarded officially in March 2009. The CWHL champion
In 2010, the Whitecaps avenged their 2009 loss and became what would prove to be the only WWHL team to win the Clarkson Cup with a 4–0 win over the
CWHL championship (2012–19)
The WWHL disbanded after the 2010–11 season, with an Albertan team joining the CWHL.[12] This made the Clarkson Cup the exclusive championship trophy of the CWHL. Montreal was the first team to win the Cup under this format, with the Stars securing a third title in four years and becoming the first and to date only team to win consecutive titles.[13] Montreal would win the Cup just once more, in 2017, after the team had re-branded to become Les Canadiennes de Montréal.[14]
The
In a move that helped enable the CWHL to start paying player stipends, the league expanded to include two teams based in
Since 2019
In the wake of the collapse of the CWHL, Canada was without top-level women's club hockey. More than 200 prominent women's players from Canada and the United States formed the Professional Women's Hockey Players Association (PWHPA) in May 2019 to advocate and build support for the creation of a stable, unified professional women's league.[27] The Premier Hockey Federation (PHF), a professional league founded in the United States in 2015, expanded into Canada in 2020, but had its own championship trophy in the Isobel Cup.[28] In 2023, the PWHPA and its business partners bought out the PHF and launched a new league, the Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL), which comprises six teams, with three each in Canada and the US.[29]
Ahead of the launch of the new league, Clarkson stated that she wanted the Clarkson Cup to be awarded to the PWHL champion.[3] Others agreed, and it was suggested that the league could possibly incorporate both the Clarkson and Isobel Cups.[30] However, in April 2024, the PWHL unveiled the Walter Cup—named after the Walter family, the league's financial backers—as its new championship trophy, leaving the Clarkson Cup in continued limbo.[31]
Design
The Clarkson Cup is made of silver and was designed by Nunavut Arctic College in Iqaluit. Clarkson commissioned Canadian silversmith Beth M. Biggs to make the trophy. She designed and built the sterling trophy and collaborated with three Inuit artists: Okpik Pitseolak, Therese Ukaliannuk, and Pootoogook Qiatsuk. The Inuit artists designed some of the decoration on the trophy. There are images of the goddess Sedna—one of the most powerful figures in Inuit tradition—Arctic animals, ancient masks and hockey masks, and the flowers of the provinces and territories of Canada. A loving cup comprises the top of the trophy.[3][4] Names of winning teams are engraved onto the base of the trophy.
Champions
The Clarkson Cup was first presented to Team Canada after their gold medal win at the 2006 Winter Olympics.[1] However, it was meant to be presented as a club championship, and was awarded in this capacity for the first time in 2009.
Edition | Date | Winning team | Losing team | Score | Location | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
National Canadian Women's Championship | ||||||
2009 | 21 March | Montreal Stars |
Minnesota Whitecaps | 3–1 | Kingston, Ontario | [9] |
2010 | 28 March | Minnesota Whitecaps | Brampton Canadettes-Thunder |
4–0 | Richmond Hill, Ontario | [10] |
2011 | 27 March | Montreal Stars | Toronto CWHL | 5–0 | Barrie, Ontario |
[11] |
Canadian Women's Hockey League | ||||||
2012 | 25 March | Montreal Stars | Brampton Thunder | 4–2 | Niagara Falls, Ontario | [13] |
2013 | 23 March | Boston Blades |
Montreal Stars | 5–2 | Markham, Ontario | [15] |
2014 | 22 March | Toronto Furies | Boston Blades |
1–0 (OT) | Markham, Ontario | [17] |
2015 | 7 March | Boston Blades | Montreal Stars | 3–2 (OT) | Markham, Ontario | [16] |
2016 | 13 March | Calgary Inferno | Les Canadiennes de Montréal | 8–3 | Ottawa, Ontario | [19] |
2017 | 5 March | Les Canadiennes de Montréal | Calgary Inferno | 3–1 | Ottawa, Ontario | [14] |
2018 | 25 March | Markham Thunder | Kunlun Red Star |
2–1 (OT) | Toronto, Ontario | [21] |
2019 | 24 March | Calgary Inferno | Les Canadiennes de Montréal | 5–2 | Toronto, Ontario | [22] |
Appearances
Clarkson Cup winning years denoted in bold.
Appearances | Team | Wins | Losses | Win % | Clarkson Cup finals |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
8 | Montreal Stars/Les Canadiennes de Montréal | 4 | 4 | .500 | 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019 |
3 | Boston/Worcester Blades | 2 | 1 | .667 | 2013, 2014, 2015 |
3 | Calgary Inferno | 2 | 1 | .667 | 2016, 2017, 2019 |
3 | Brampton/Markham Thunder | 1 | 2 | .333 | 2010, 2012, 2018 |
2 | Minnesota Whitecaps | 1 | 1 | .500 | 2009, 2010 |
2 | Toronto Furies [a] | 1 | 1 | .500 | 2011, 2014 |
1 | Kunlun Red Star
|
0 | 1 | .000 | 2018 |
- ^ Toronto adopted the Furies moniker after their 2011 appearance; at the time, they were known simply as Toronto CWHL.
All-time leaderboards
Player | Team(s) | GP | G | A | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Caroline Ouellette | Montréal | 23 | 12 | 20 | 32 |
Hilary Knight | Boston, Montréal | 17 | 14 | 12 | 26 |
Emmanuelle Blais | Montréal | 23 | 8 | 11 | 19 |
Ann-Sophie Bettez | Montréal | 19 | 9 | 7 | 16 |
Tessa Bonhomme | Calgary, Toronto | 18 | 4 | 12 | 16 |
Sabrina Harbec | Montréal | 12 | 5 | 10 | 15 |
Rebecca Johnston | Toronto, Calgary | 12 | 8 | 6 | 14 |
Dominique Thibault | Montréal | 15 | 7 | 7 | 14 |
Kelli Stack | Boston, Kunlun Red Star | 11 | 4 | 10 | 14 |
Julie Chu | Montréal | 21 | 3 | 11 | 14 |
Player | Team | GP | SO
|
---|---|---|---|
Charline Labonté | Montréal | 12 | 4 |
Jennifer Lavigne | Montréal | 4 | 3 |
Geneviève Lacasse | Boston | 7 | 2 |
Emerance Maschmeyer | Montréal | 8 | 2 |
See also
- List of sports awards honoring women
- List of awards presented by the governor general of Canada
- List of awards named after governors general of Canada
- Viceregal eponyms in Canada
References
- ^ a b c Robson, Dan (2010-03-26). "Best in women's hockey vie for Clarkson Cup". CBC Sports. Archived from the original on 2024-01-23. Retrieved 2024-01-23.
- ^ Spencer, Donna (2019-04-01). "Clarkson Cup 'will always be there,' former governor-general says as CWHL folds". The Globe and Mail. The Canadian Press. Archived from the original on 2019-04-03. Retrieved 2024-01-23.
- ^ a b c d Clarkson, Adrienne (2023-12-09). "Women's hockey should have its own trophy gifted by a governor-general: The Clarkson Cup". The Globe and Mail (Op-ed). Archived from the original on 2023-12-13. Retrieved 2024-01-23.
- ^ a b "Historic Trophies — Clarkson Cup". hhof.com. Hockey Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on 2021-09-19. Retrieved 2024-01-23.
- ^ Naylor, David (2006-07-14). "Leagues bury hatchet, merge". The Globe and Mail. Archived from the original on 2022-01-25. Retrieved 2024-01-23.
- ^ "Clarkson Cup in limbo over ownership rights". Toronto Star. 2007-10-31. Archived from the original on 2007-11-01. Retrieved 2024-01-23.
- ^ a b c "Montreal Stars win women's national hockey championship". CBC Sports. The Canadian Press. 2009-03-21. Archived from the original on 2014-11-29. Retrieved 2024-01-23.
- ^ a b "Canadian Women's Hockey League launches". CBC Sports. 2007-09-27. Archived from the original on 2015-09-29. Retrieved 2024-01-21.
- ^ a b c Podnieks, Andrew (2009-03-24). "Montreal wins first Clarkson Cup". iih.com. IIHF. Archived from the original on 2015-07-16. Retrieved 2024-01-23.
- ^ a b Robson, Dan (2010-03-28). "Minnesota Whitecaps capture Clarkson Cup". CBC Sports. Archived from the original on 2022-11-13. Retrieved 2024-01-20.
- ^ a b Brady, Rachel (2011-03-27). "Montreal hopes Clarkson Cup win promotes women's hockey league". The Globe and Mail. Archived from the original on 2012-10-24. Retrieved 2024-01-23.
- ^ "Canadian Elite Women's Hockey Moves West with League's Expansion to Alberta". CWHL. 2011-04-19. Archived from the original on 2011-05-16. Retrieved 2024-01-20.
- ^ a b Spiteri, Ray (2012-03-26). "Montreal Stars win second consecutive Clarkson Cup". Welland Tribune. Archived from the original on 2024-01-23. Retrieved 2024-01-23 – via pressreader.com.
- ^ a b Pack, Joe (2017-03-05). "Les Canadiennes have nothing left to prove after Clarkson Cup win". Sportsnet. Archived from the original on 2017-03-10. Retrieved 2024-01-23.
- ^ a b "Boston Blades ride power play to first-ever Clarkson Cup championship". The Globe and Mail. The Canadian Press. 2013-03-23. Archived from the original on 2024-01-23. Retrieved 2024-01-23.
- ^ New York Times. Associated Press. 2015-03-07. Archivedfrom the original on 2015-03-09. Retrieved 2024-01-23.
- ^ a b Karstens-Smith, Gemma (2014-03-22). "Clarkson Cup: Toronto Furies claim CWHL title with overtime victory". Toronto Star. Archived from the original on 2024-01-23. Retrieved 2024-01-23.
- ^ MacGregor, Roy (2016-03-10). "Women's hockey has come so far, and has so much further to go". The Globe and Mail. Archived from the original on 2016-03-16. Retrieved 2024-01-23.
- ^ a b MacGregor, Lisa (2016-03-13). "Mission accomplished for Calgary Inferno to win first Clarkson Cup". Global News. Archived from the original on 2016-03-26. Retrieved 2024-01-23.
- ^ Brady, Rachel (2017-10-12). "After a busy summer, the CWHL is hoping for a big winter in 2017-18". The Globe and Mail. Archived from the original on 2017-10-13. Retrieved 2024-01-20.
- ^ a b McGran, Kevin (2018-03-25). "Laura Stacey's overtime winner gives Markham its first Clarkson Cup". Toronto Star. Archived from the original on 2023-12-16. Retrieved 2024-01-20.
- ^ a b Shulman, Mike (2019-03-24). "Inferno take down Canadiennes to win franchise's 2nd Clarkson Cup". CBC Sports. The Canadian Press. Archived from the original on 2019-04-01. Retrieved 2024-01-23.
- ^ Rutherford, Kristina (2019-03-31). "Questions, frustration remain in wake of CWHL's decision to fold". Sportsnet. Archived from the original on 2019-04-02. Retrieved 2024-01-15.
- ^ Wawrow, John (2019-04-18). "Players demand say in women's hockey future after CWHL folds". The Seattle Times. The Associated Press. Archived from the original on 2019-04-19. Retrieved 2020-12-13.
- ^ Spencer, Donna (2019-04-01). "Clarkson Cup 'will always be there,' former governor-general says as CWHL folds". The Globe and Mail. The Canadian Press. Archived from the original on 2019-04-03. Retrieved 2024-01-23.
- ^ Kelly, Cathal (2019-03-22). "Former governor-general likes that her Clarkson Cup keeps hockey Canadian". The Globe and Mail. Archived from the original on 2019-03-24. Retrieved 2024-01-23.
- ^ Kaplan, Emily (2019-09-20). "Sorting out the current landscape of professional women's hockey". ESPN. Archived from the original on 2022-12-02. Retrieved 2023-01-24.
- ^ Kaplan, Emily (2020-04-22). "NWHL adding first Canadian team, in Toronto". ESPN. Archived from the original on 2020-05-03. Retrieved 2020-10-21.
- ^ Donkin, Karissa (2024-01-05). "Players beaming as physical play, new rules and historic moments highlight PWHL's 1st week". CBC Sports. Archived from the original on 2024-01-05. Retrieved 2024-01-05.
- ^ Boswell, Randy (2023-11-21). "Revive the Clarkson Cup as the prize the Women's Professional Hockey League will compete for". Ottawa Citizen (Op-ed). Archived from the original on 2024-01-23. Retrieved 2024-01-23 – via MSN.
- ^ "PWHL unveils Walter Cup as championship trophy". CBC Sports. The Canadian Press. 2024-04-04. Archived from the original on 2024-04-05. Retrieved 2024-04-13.
- ^ a b "CWHL (W) Stats—All-time totals". Elite Prospects. Archived from the original on 2023-11-19. Retrieved 2023-11-19.