What Is the ‘Calder Cup’ in Sports?

The “Calder Cup” is the championship trophy for the American Hockey League (AHL).

Think of it as the “Stanley Cup” for the AHL. The AHL is the top-tier minor league for the NHL, so winning the Calder Cup means you’re the best team in the league right below the pros.

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⚠️ One Quick Thing to Know

It’s very easy to confuse the Calder Cup with the Calder Memorial Trophy.

• Calder Cup: The championship team trophy for the AHL playoffs.
• Calder Memorial Trophy: An individual player award given to the “Rookie of the Year” in the NHL.

Both are named after Frank Calder, the first-ever president of the NHL, but they are two very different awards!