The MacNaughton Cup is a historic collegiate ice‑hockey trophy awarded in the United States to the regular‑season champion of a Division I conference. It is most closely associated with the Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA), though its use has shifted among conferences over time.
Origin and donation
The cup was donated in 1913 by James MacNaughton, a former University of Minnesota ice‑hockey player and benefactor. Intended to recognize the champion of the Minnesota Intercollegiate Hockey League (MIHL), the trophy was crafted from silver and measures approximately 18 inches (45 cm) in height.
Early usage
After the dissolution of the MIHL in the early 1920s, the MacNaughton Cup was transferred to the successor league, the Midwest Collegiate Hockey League (MCHL). When the MCHL reorganized as the Western Intercollegiate Hockey League (WIHL) in 1951, the cup continued to be awarded to the league’s regular‑season champion.
Association with the WCHA
In 1959 the WIHL reconstituted as the Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA). The MacNaughton Cup became the WCHA’s regular‑season championship trophy and, for more than six decades, was the oldest continuously awarded collegiate hockey trophy in the United States. The cup was traditionally presented at a ceremony following the conclusion of the regular season.
Recent developments
Following the major conference realignment in 2021, the WCHA ceased operations for men’s hockey. The MacNaughton Cup was transferred to the revived Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) and is now awarded to the CCHA regular‑season champion. The trophy’s stewardship is maintained by the MacNaughton family trust, which oversees its preservation and presentation.
Physical description
The trophy consists of a large silver cup mounted on a matching pedestal. The base bears engraved plaques listing each season’s winning institution and the year of the award. The original 1913 cup has been retained; additional replicas are used for display and ceremonial purposes.
Significance
The MacNaughton Cup is regarded as a symbol of sustained excellence in collegiate ice hockey. Its long history links several generations of programs across the Upper Midwest, and it is frequently cited alongside other historic collegiate trophies such as the Hobey Baker Award (player of the year) and the NCAA championship trophy.
Notable winners
Since its inception, the cup has been awarded to programs including the University of Minnesota, the University of North Dakota, Colorado College, and the University of Michigan, among others. Teams that have captured the cup multiple times are often regarded as traditional powerhouses within the sport.