Each season, a new chapter is added to the remarkable history of the Stanley Cup. And sometimes the tales generated are a little less than conventional.

While the end result is the crowning of a champion, the road to becoming a Stanley Cup champion is never the same old story. Aside from the playoff lore of passion and determination that have followed the Cup for years, there have been stories among the story.

For instance, did you know that the Montreal Amateur Athletic Association (AAA) hockey club won the first Stanley Cup championship in 1893 without playing a game in the Finals? Yes, indeed. Montreal was awarded the trophy as a result of winning Canada's Amateur Hockey Association (AHA) title.

Hang on, we're just getting started.

The phantom goalie -- In 1929, Hal Winkler had his name engraved on the Cup even though he didn't play a single game in the Finals that season for the Boston Bruins. As a matter of fact, his blades never touched the ice that season. Winkler retired before the 1928-29 season and the Bruins honored their former teammate by placing his name on the Cup as their "sub-goaltender."

Home ice disadvantage -- The first real game for the Stanley Cup wasn't played until 1894 when a round-robin tournament was scheduled between the top four AHA teams -- Ottawa, Quebec, Montreal AAA and the Montreal Victorias. The field for the Cup quickly narrowed to three when Quebec dropped out over a scheduling dispute. Because all the games were staged in Montreal, the Ottawa club was given an automatic bid into the Finals since they were the only road team competing.

On March 17, 1894, Montreal AAA edged the Montreal Victorias, 3-2, in what was termed the first ever Stanley Cup Playoff game. Five nights later, the AAA took home the Cup championship by downing Ottawa, 3-1. Forward Billy Barlow scored twice in the deciding contest to help Montreal successfully defend its title.

A timely idea -- George Merritt became the first goalie to appear in a Stanley Cup game wearing leg pads. Merritt donned a pair of cricket pads for Winnipeg in the 1896 challenge match win over the Montreal Victorias.

A fearsome foursome -- In 1901 Jack Marshall started a Cup streak that still stands today. In '01 he was a member of the Winnipeg team that captured the hockey championship. The following season Marshall again won the Cup, but this time as a member of the Montreal AAA club. Five years later, he won his third Cup as a member of the Montreal Wanderers (he also won the title with the Wanderers in 1910) and in 1914 Marshall completed his grand slam with the Toronto Blueshirts, becoming the only skater in the history of the Cup to play on four different championship-winning teams.

Frank "King" Clancy is the only player ever to play all six positions in a single Cup game.

Not to be outdone -- Goaltender Harry "Hap" Holmes also played on four different Cup-winning teams. Holmes, who played from 1913-1928, won the title with the Toronto Blueshirts in 1914; the Seattle Metropolitans in 1917; the Toronto Arenas in 1918 and the Victoria Cougars in 1925.

Different kind of hat trick -- While Holmes and Marshall won the Cup with four different clubs, Eddie Gerard is the only player to appear on three consecutive Cup-winners with different clubs. Gerard won with Ottawa in 1921, with the Toronto St. Pats in 1922 and again with Ottawa in 1923.

Clancy sure gets around -- If you think that was an achievement, try topping what Frank "King" Clancy did on March 31, 1923. Clancy is the only player ever to play all six positions in a single Cup game. He started the night at center and eventually put some time in on both wings. His team also called upon him to play both sides of the ice on defense and when goalie Clint Benedict was whistled for slashing, the club called upon their "Frank of all Trades" to man the pipes for two minutes until their "real" puck-stopper returned.

One and done -- Speaking of goalies, Joe Miller became the first goalie to backstop the New York Americans to the Stanley Cup. What's even more impressive -- and ironic -- is Miller never played another postseason game in his career. After his two impressive wins, where he allowed only a single goal, the journeyman netminder was never heard from again in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Charlie Gardiner became the only goaltender to have his name engraved on the Cup as the winning team's captain. Gardiner was the captain of the Chicago Blackhawks for the 1933-34 season.

The 'other' Rocket -- While Maurice Richard is the most famous "Rocket" on the Stanley Cup, he was not the first "Rocket" to win the Cup. "Rocket" Power won the title in 1913 as a member of the Quebec Bulldogs.

Powerful goal -- In 1933, Bill Cook of the New York Rangers became the only player to score a Cup-winning power play goal in overtime. During the 1933 Stanley Cup Finals, Cook potted the winner for New York while two members of the Maple Leafs were in the box.

My captain, my goalie -- The following season history was also made in the Finals when Charlie Gardiner became the only goaltender to have his name engraved on the Cup as the winning team's captain. Gardiner was the captain of the Chicago Blackhawks for the 1933-34 campaign.

Doesn't get any better -- In 1950, Doug McKay made the most of his only NHL game. The Detroit Red Wings suited him up for a single contest in the 1950 Finals, making McKay the only player to make his sole appearance in the League with a Cup-winning team during the Cup Finals.

Working overtime -- While McKay's appearance in the NHL was brief, the games in the 1951 Finals were anything but. All five games in the '51 Stanley Cup Finals between the Montreal Canadiens and the Toronto Maple Leafs went into overtime, the only time in League history that extra time was needed for every game of the championship. What made things even more memorable was that the Leafs won the Cup on OT winners from four different players -- Sid Smith, Ted Kennedy, Harry Watson and Bill Barilko -- which also happened to be the only overtime goals the players would score in their careers.

Lindsay ignores threats -- In 1956, during the semifinals series between the Detroit Red Wings and Toronto Maple Leafs, officials received a threat that Ted Lindsay would be shot if he took the ice for the third game of the series. Well, needless to say, Lindsay not only suited up that night for the Wings, he also scored the game-winning goal in overtime to lead Detroit to victory.

A first for Beliveau -- A tradition was started in the 1965 Stanley Cup Finals when Jean Beliveau was awarded the first-ever Conn Smythe Trophy, given to the MVP of the Playoffs. Beliveau tallied three game-winning goals in the seven-game series between the Montreal Canadiens and the Chicago Blackhawks to earn the award.

Picking their spots -- Autry Erickson and Milan Marcetta both were in the right place at the right time in 1967. The duo got their names engraved on the Stanley Cup even though neither played a regular-season game for the Leafs that year. Marcetta appeared in three postseason games, while Erickson appeared in one. The win in '67 would also be a blessing in disguise for both players, as neither player would win another Cup ring in their NHL careers.

In 1980, Ken Morrow became the first player in hockey history to win an Olympic Gold Medal and a Stanley Cup championship in the same year.

Putting the Cup before the horse -- Danny Grant and Tony Esposito own rare distinctions. Both players won the Stanley Cup prior to winning the Calder Trophy as the NHL's top rookie. Grant won a Cup in 1968 with the Montreal Canadiens and then in 1969 he won the Calder as a member of the Minnesota North Stars. Esposito won the Cup with Montreal in '69 and his Rookie of the Year trophy in 1970 when he backstopped the Chicago Blackhawks.

You're never too old -- Speaking of backstops, Johnny Bower became the oldest goalie to play in an NHL playoffs game when he put on the gear on April 6, 1969 at the age of 44 years, four months and 28 days.

Silver and gold -- In 1980, Ken Morrow became the first player in hockey history to win an Olympic Gold Medal and a Stanley Cup championship in the same year. The Islanders defenseman first won an Olympic medal with Team USA at Lake Placid and then closed out his first year in the NHL by earning a Cup ring with New York.

No heavy burden -- In the 2001 Stanley Cup Finals, the 40-year old Ray Bourque also learned something about firsts. The Avalanche defenseman won his first and only Cup ring in the 214th playoff game of his career when the Colorado Avalanche defeated the New Jersey Devils in seven games. The 22-year NHL veteran was all choked up after the Avs 3-1 Game 7 victory.

"The way it ended, it really is a great story," Bourque said. "I couldn't breath the last 30 seconds and it wasn't because I was tired. It was just too much. I only relaxed when there were about seven seconds left. The last 10 minutes took a long time to wind down. What a feeling, I can't describe it."

But when asked how it felt to finally hold the Stanley Cup over his head, Bourque joked: "It was heavier than I thought."