PENROSE CUP
The Penrose Cup is named in honor of Julie and Spencer Penrose and awarded to the NCHC’s regular-season champion. Mr. and Mrs. Penrose were tremendously successful in the copper mines of Utah, gold mines of Colorado and various businesses in and around the Colorado Springs area in the early 1900s. They shared their wealth with the Colorado Springs community by building such attractions as the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, the Broadmoor Hotel and most importantly to the hockey community, the Broadmoor World Arena/Ice Palace. The Broadmoor World Arena was the home of the first NCAA Hockey Championship in 1948 - hosting the first 10 years of the Championship’s existence (1948-1957) and then again in 1969. Mr. and Mrs. Penrose also established the El Pomar Foundation, a Colorado non-profit for cultural and civic institutions. Upon their respective deaths, both Mr. and Mrs. Penrose left the majority of their estates to the El Pomar Foundation insuring the foundation would be their living legacy.
In 2011, the El Pomar Foundation played a major role in attracting the National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC) to the Colorado Springs area by awarding the NCHC a grant to assist in the Conference start up. In addition, the Conference’s headquarters are located in the Copper Building on the grounds of the Penrose House, the former residence of Mr. and Mrs. Penrose. Then, in 2013, El Pomar again offered a grant to the NCHC to aid with the design and production of the NCHC’s regular-season championship trophy. The NCHC’s Board of Directors decided to commemorate the legacy of Julie and Spencer Penrose by naming the trophy in their honor. Copper accents were incorporated into the trophy as a way to pay homage to the element that helped build the Penrose fortune. The Julie and Spencer Penrose Memorial Cup will be awarded each year to the NCHC’s regular-season champion. And thus, the legacy of the Penrose Cup begins…
PAST PENROSE CUP CHAMPIONS
- 2013-14: St. Cloud State
- 2014-15: North Dakota
- 2015-16: North Dakota
- 2016-17: Denver
- 2017-18: St. Cloud State
- 2018-19: St. Cloud State
- 2019-20: North Dakota
- 2020-21: North Dakota
- 2021-22: Denver and North Dakota (co-champions)
- 2022-23: Denver
- 2023-24: North Dakota
- 2024-25: Western Michigan
PENROSE CUP TROPHY TOUR
During the second half of the 2013-14 season, the Penrose Cup was displayed at each of the eight NCHC arenas for a weekend for fans to see the trophy in person and take pictures. A photo gallery of the trophy tour is below.
Photo Gallery of the Penrose Cup Trophy Tour
Photos of the Penrose Cup Trophy Tour
Follow along as the Penrose Cup visits all eight NCHC arenas during the second half of the season. The gallery will be updated with photos throughout the tour.
Photo Gallery of the Penrose Cup Arriving at the NCHC Office
Penrose Cup Arrives
The Julie and Spencer Penrose Cup, awarded to the NCHC regular season champion, arrived at the NCHC office on Oct. 17, 2013.