Why Just the NHL?

When the National Hockey League made an arrangement with the Board of Trustees of the Stanley Cup (the people responsible for maintaining and protecting it) in 1947 (and again in 2000) it was determined and agreed upon that Lord Stanley's mug would be the de facto championship of the NHL after the demise of the Pacific Coast Hockey Association (later the Western Canada Hockey League, then finally the Western Hockey League) in 1926.  Many think that since the cup was originally presented to the "amateur hockey champions of the dominion" (Canada) that Canadian teams have the right to challenge for the cup if there is a labour dispute or work stoppage that would result in the cup not being awarded to a NHL team, much like what happened in 2005.

Two Toronto beer-league hockey players launched a legal challenge during the 2004-05 lockout to amend this aspect of the agreement between trustees and the NHL, leading to an out-of-court settlement a year later.  The court ruled in the players favour, however the powers of who ultimately decided who gets to compete for the cup remained with the trustees and they say no team outside the NHL will hoist the cup.

1. The Trustees hereby delegate to the League full authority to determine and amend from time to time the conditions for competition of the Stanley Cup, including the qualifications of challengers, the appointment of officials, the apportionment and distribution of all gate receipts, provided always that the winners of this trophy shall be the acknowledged World's Professional Hockey Champions.
2. The Trustees agree that during the currency of this agreement they will not acknowledge or accept any challenge for the Stanley Cup unless such a challenge is in conformity with the condition specified in paragraph one (1) thereof.
3. The League undertakes the responsibility for the care and safe custody of the Stanley Cup including all necessary repairs and alterations to the cup and sub-structure as may be required from time to time, and further undertakes to insure the Stanley Cup for its full insurable value.
4. The League hereby acknowledges itself to be bound to the Trustees in the sum of One Thousand Dollars, which bond is conditioned upon the safe return of the Stanley Cup to the Trustees in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, and it is agreed that the League shall have the right to return the trophy to the Trustees at any time.
5. This agreement shall remain in force so long as the League continues to be the world's leading professional hockey league as determined by its playing caliber, and in the event of dissolution or other termination of the National Hockey League, the Stanley Cup shall revert to the custody of the trustees.
6. In the event of default in the appointment of a new trustee by the surviving trustee, the "Trustees" hereby delegate and appoint the Governors of the International Hockey Hall of Fame in Kingston, Ontario, to name two Canadian trustees to carry on under the terms of the original trust, and in conformity with this Agreement.
7. And it is further mutually agreed that any disputes arising as to the interpretation of this Agreement or the facts upon which such interpretation is made, shall be settled by an Arbitration Board of three, one member to be appointed by each of the parties, and the third to be selected by the two appointees. The decision of the Arbitration Board shall be final.^[13]

-SOURCE: Wikipedia

I get all the agreement stuff and legal mumbo-jumbo.  The NHL essentially owns the cup (if not officially) and even if there is a work stoppage or another entire season wiped out, no team from the amateur ranks (say the competitors for the Allan Cup-the successor to the Stanley Cup as Canadian amateur supremacy) or juniors, no other kids that have dreamed of hoisting hockey's Holy Grail, unless they're a member of an NHL team, will never get that chance.  Somehow, I doubt that was the original intention of Lord Stanley, the Earl of Preston when he purchased the sterling silver punch bowl to crown Canada's hockey kings.

But think about it.  Wouldn't it be an exciting time for hockey, professional or otherwise, if any team could have a chance to challenge for the Stanley Cup?  Not juniors.  They have the Memorial Cup and the Stanley Cup was never meant or advertised for junior hockey competition.  But pro-am and minor league teams?  Why not?  Imagine the intrigue if minor league or amateur team were told they had the opportunity to be hockey's club world champions?  A kid that had dreamed of playing in the NHL only to be cut, injured or otherwise told his dream of hoisting the Stanley Cup one day was done was now in the running to have his name etched on the cup with the heroes of yesteryear.  Maybe even a true world tournament.  Much like the World Championships or Olympics, the best or best available could compete from all over the globe.

Isn't the Stanley Cup, regardless of who or what league supposed to be the emblem of hockey's best?  Isn't that better than having the greatest symbol of hockey supremacy, and the oldest and hardest team trophy to win collecting dust because a decision can't be made on what millionaires should make the most money?

Could It Be?

I'll believe it when I see it (or them) litteraly.
But, oh what happy days it will be.  Except, hey George, no more Jake Lloyds, Haden Christiansens and for the love of everything decent, please nothing even remotely close to resembling Jar Jar Binks!