The Prince of Wales Trophy, or simply the Wales Trophy, is a National Hockey League (NHL) trophy awarded to the Eastern Conference (formerly the Wales Conference) playoff champions. The trophy is awarded prior to the final series which are the championship games to decide the winner for the Stanley Cup against the Western Conference's champions. The trophy was first established in the 1923-24 NHL season, for the champion of the NHL playoffs, but it has been the trophy for eight different accomplishments, which also include being the NHL regular season champions, American Division regular season champions, regular season champions, East Division regular season champions, Wales Conference regular season champions, Wales Conference playoffs champions, and Eastern Conference playoffs champions. The current holder of the Prince of Wales Trophy is the Tampa Bay Lightning after defeating the New York Rangers in the 2015 Eastern Conference finals.
Prince of Wales Trophy | a National Hockey League (NHL) trophy
Questions and Answers
Q: What is the Prince of Wales Trophy?
A: The Prince of Wales Trophy, or simply the Wales Trophy, is a National Hockey League (NHL) trophy awarded to the Eastern Conference (formerly the Wales Conference) playoff champions.
Q: When was the trophy first established?
A: The trophy was first established in the 1923-24 NHL season.
Q: What has it been used for?
A: The Prince of Wales Trophy has been used for eight different accomplishments, which include being the NHL regular season champions, American Division regular season champions, regular season champions, East Division regular season champions, Wales Conference regular season champions, Wales Conference playoffs champions and Eastern Conference playoffs champions.
Q: Who currently holds the trophy?
A: The current holder of the Prince of Wales Trophy is the Tampa Bay Lightning after defeating the New York Rangers in the 2015 Eastern Conference finals.
Q: How does one win this trophy?
A: To win this trophy one must be successful in either winning an NHL regular season championship or by winning an Eastern/Wales conference playoff championship.
Q: What happens with this trophy after it's won?
A: After it's won, it remains with that team until they are defeated in a subsequent year's playoffs at which point it will go to another team who wins their respective conference championship.
Q: Is there any other significance associated with this award?
A: Yes - as well as being a symbol of success on ice for its holders and recipients; it also serves as a reminder that hockey is more than just a game but rather something that brings people together from all walks of life and backgrounds to celebrate their shared love for sport and competition.