The Stanley Cup Case Study: Changes in the Practice and Pedagogy of Property Law

Abstract

This article examines the legal issues that arose when the Stanley Cup was not awarded one year because of a labour dispute between the National Hockey League and its players. It traces the history of the Stanley Cup Trust, and describes the events surrounding the 2004-2005 lockout, including a lawsuit over ownership of the Cup. The Stanley Cup case study is a rich resource for teachers of property law. Various strategies for covering the case study inside and outside of the classroom are discussed and analyzed.

Keywords: Stanley Cup, legal issues, law, labour dispute, National Hockey League, NHL, players, Stanley Cup trust, lockout, 2004, 2005, lawsuit, ownership, property law