The Stanley Cup is the championship trophy awarded annually to the National Hockey League (NHL) playoff winner. It is one of the oldest and most prestigious trophies in professional sports, first awarded in 1893. The Cup is named after Lord Stanley of Preston, the Governor General of Canada, who donated it. The Stanley Cup is unique because it is made of silver and nickel and features the names of winning players and teams engraved on its surface. The trophy is traditionally presented at the end of the NHL playoffs, culminating in the final series known as the Stanley Cup Finals.