90 years ago today, the Detroit Red Wings captured the first Stanley Cup in franchise history, defeating the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 1936 Stanley Cup Final.

The championship came in the 1935–36 NHL season, just 10 years after the franchise was founded in 1926. Detroit, coached by Jack Adams and led by captain Doug Young, finished the regular season with a 24-16-8 record and first place in the American Division.

The team was built on strong defense and balanced scoring, allowing just 103 goals against during the season while finishing among the league’s top teams in goal differential.

In the Stanley Cup Final, Detroit met Toronto in a best-of-five series. The Red Wings controlled the matchup early, including a dominant 9-4 win in Game 2, and closed out the series 3-1 to secure the championship. The victory marked a turning point for the young franchise, establishing Detroit as an emerging power in the NHL.

The 1936 title also helped set the foundation for one of hockey’s most successful organizations. The Red Wings went on to win another Cup the following season in 1937 and have since added nine more championships, including their most recent in 2008.