In 1913, MacNaughton purchased a cup trophy for US$2,000[2] and donated it to the President of the American Hockey Association, which was to be awarded to the league's champion at the end of the season. The MacNaughton Cup remained with the American Hockey Association until 1932. From 1933 to 1950, the Cup was given to semi-pro and intermediate hockey teams in Michigan's Copper Country.
In 1953, the MCHL became the Western Intercollegiate Hockey League (WIHL). The Cup remained a part of the WIHL until the league was disbanded in March 1958. There was no league play for the 1958–59 season, and for the 1959–60 season the seven teams resumed competition under the new name of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association.
From the 1961–62 through the 1964–65 seasons, the Cup was awarded to the WCHA's playoff tournament champion instead of the regular season champion, but the WCHA resumed awarding the Cup to the regular season Champion again for the start of the 1965–66 season through the 1981–82 season.
Michigan Tech left the WCHA to join the Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) for the 1981–82 season. Since Michigan Tech is the trustee of the Cup, the Cup went to the CCHA. The Broadmoor Trophy was created as a replacement and awarded to the regular season champion until Michigan Tech returned to the WCHA for the start of the 1984–85 season. The MacNaughton Cup also returned and continued to be awarded to the regular season champion through the final WCHA men's season in 2020–21.
On May 18, 2021, it was announced that the trophy would be returning to the re-formed CCHA, beginning with the 2021–22 season.
Champions
North Dakota's 14 MacNaughton Cups led the WCHA. Denver and Minnesota are tied for second, with 13 MacNaughton Cups. Bowling Green was the first school to win the cup 3 straight times. They were later supplanted by Minnesota State, who has 6 consecutive wins as of 2023.
^ abJulien, Connie. "MacNaughton Cup Winners". Copper Country Hockey History. Archived from the original on August 28, 2013. Retrieved January 21, 2013.