Of Octopi and Hat Tricks

So what, exactly, do octopi have to do with hockey? Well, they don't have much to do with hockey in general and everything to do with the Red Wings. For those who don't know the legend of the octopus, read on.

During Red Wing games, people have been known to throw octopi onto the ice. This started way back when there were only six teams in the NHL and it took only eight wins to become the Stanley Cup champions. Because the octopus has eight legs, each one symbolized a win. Two brothers were the first ones to throw an octopus during the 1952 series, which the Wings swept, and a legend was born.

Over the years, the practice of throwing octopi grew. Finally, it got to be such a nuisance that the NHL stepped in. Today, if ANYTHING is thrown on the ice and causes a delay in the game, a penalty could be called on the team. This has slowed down the number of octopi seen during the year--as well as any number of other things, such as the plastic rats thrown in Florida.

There still are people who bring octopi to the games--and actually get them on the ice. Joe Louis Arena--where the Wings play--does not condone the throwing of anything on the ice, so fans have to sneak in the creatures. How do you sneak in an octopus? First, you must boil it to cut down on the slime-factor AND help control the odor. (This also helps cut down on the time it takes to clean the ice after the octopus lands on it.) Next, you wrap the thing in a trash bag and place said bag around your waist--this is so you can get the critter past security. Once you get to your seat with your little friend, you have to decide WHEN to throw it. For the most part, the octopi get thrown right after the national anthem. Some people will wait and throw them after the Wings make a goal, but there is no guarantee that will happen during every game. When throwing the thing, one MUST be sure to not hit anyone--especially an opposing player. This is just good etiquette. To help keep a thrower's identity secret--and to keep him/her from getting into any trouble--those in the surrounding seats will happily stand to protect the perpetrator. It is surprising how many of the eight-legged wonders make it to the ice in a season.

And what do octopi and hat tricks have in common? They both involve throwing things on the ice. A hat trick is when a player gets three goals in one game--not an easy task, to be sure. Following the scoring of the third goal, fans will throw there hats onto the ice to acknowledge the good job the player has done. These days, at $26 (or more) a hat, you don't see too many people throwing their hats onto the ice. It is a shame, because it was a really cool thing to see.

Before ending this post, I must mention that there IS a difference between a hat trick and a Gordie Howe hat trick. Gordie Howe--Mr. Hockey--played for the Red Wings. A Gordie Howe hat trick consists of a goal, an assist, and a fight, all in one game. In all his years, Howe only once had a Gordie Howe hat trick--and that was in 1955. Howe retired from hockey in 1980.