) ▁and ▁the ▁champion ▁of ▁the ▁Pacific ▁Coast ▁Hockey ▁Association ▁( P CH A ). ▁After ▁a ▁series ▁of ▁league ▁mer gers ▁and ▁fol ds , ▁it ▁became ▁the ▁championship ▁tro phy ▁of ▁the ▁National ▁Hockey ▁League ▁( N HL ) ▁in ▁ 1 9 2 6 . ▁Starting ▁in ▁ 1 9 8 2 , ▁the ▁championship ▁round ▁of ▁the ▁N HL ' s ▁play offs ▁has ▁been ▁a ▁best - of - se ven ▁series ▁played ▁between ▁the ▁champions ▁of ▁the ▁Eastern ▁and ▁Western ▁Con ferences . ▁Western ▁champions ▁have ▁won ▁ 1 9 ▁times , ▁while ▁the ▁Eastern ▁champions ▁have ▁won ▁ 1 7 ▁times . ▁ ▁History ▁The ▁Stanley ▁Cup ▁was ▁first ▁awarded ▁to ▁the ▁Montreal ▁Hockey ▁Club ▁in ▁ 1 8 9 3 ▁when ▁the ▁team ▁won ▁the ▁ 1 8 9 3 ▁A H AC ▁season . ▁The ▁team ▁then ▁had ▁to ▁defend ▁its ▁champion - title ▁both ▁through ▁league ▁champion ships ▁and ▁challenge ▁games ▁organ ised ▁by ▁the ▁Stanley ▁Cup ▁trust ees . ▁Until ▁ 1 9 1 2 , ▁these ▁challeng es ▁could ▁take ▁place ▁before ▁or ▁during ▁a ▁league ▁season . ▁After ▁ 1 9 1 2 , ▁the ▁trust ees ▁ordered ▁that ▁challeng es ▁only ▁take ▁place ▁after ▁all ▁league ▁games ▁were ▁completed . ▁ ▁The ▁last ▁challenge , ▁in ▁ 1 9 1 4 , ▁was ▁the ▁inaug uration ▁of ▁the ▁first ▁" World ▁Series " ▁of ▁ice ▁hockey , ▁a ▁series ▁between ▁the ▁Stanley ▁Cup ▁and ▁league ▁champion ▁Toronto ▁Hockey ▁Club