With the first round of the NHL’s Stanley Cup playoffs well underway, it’s time to look at the lighter, often overlooked but extremely impactful side of the postseason; the fans.
One of the greatest things about hockey is the way fans get wrapped up in the playoff atmosphere and everything it brings. From singing national anthems and throwing miscellaneous objects on the ice to waving playoff towels emphatically, NHL fans are an exciting bunch come April.
With that in mind, we figured now would be a good time to look at some of the fan playoff traditions that are going on in the postseason this year.
Octopus in Detroit
You cannot talk about the Stanley Cup Playoffs without mentioning the Detroit Red Wings.
The Red Wings have won 11 Stanley Cups and have made the postseason for the past 21 straight seasons. Besides giving credit to the players, coaches, management and everyone else within the organization, there is something else that deserves some credit.
Octopus. Yes, an octopus deserves credit for helping the Red Wings achieve success in the postseason. It all started in 1952 when the owner of a local fish market, Peter Cusimano, threw one from the stands onto the ice.
The eight legs represent the eight wins it took to win the Cup at the time. The Wings went onto win eight straight en route to a Cup championship.
Rats in Florida
Speaking of seeing weird things thrown onto the ice, Florida Panthers fans started a tradition that involved the throwing of a certain type of rodent.
Plastic rats. Yes, Panthers’ fans throw plastic rats on the ice when their team is in the postseason. The tradition began in 1996 when it was known as the "rat trick".
Former Panthers netminder John Vanbiesbrouck called it the "rat trick" after teammate Scott Mellanby killed a rat in the team’s locker room prior to their home opener. Panthers’ fans picked up on the idea and started throwing rats on the ice as a way to celebrate when their team scored a goal.
In the playoffs, the throwing of rats increases exponentially. On their way to the Stanley Cup Final in 1996, there were so many rats thrown onto the ice after every Panthers goal that the league to adopt an off-season rule change that allowed officials to penalize the home team if fans disrupt the game by throwing objects.
Thx for all the tweets about the rats flying again in FLA. Yes it brings a smile to my face. Have to be remembered for something I guess.
— Scott Mellanby (@mellanby19) April 20, 2012
White Out in Winnipeg, Phoenix and Pittsburgh
Some fans like to keep it simple when it comes to playoff traditions.
This particular tradition started in 1987 and was called the Winnipeg White Out. The tradition started in 1987 when Winnipeg Jets fans were asked to wear white at home playoff games.
Believe it or not, this tradition started as a response to the Calgary Flames fans "C of Red". The Flames and Jets met in the postseason that year and Jets fans began their tradition that helped their team beat the Flames in six games.
When the team moved to Phoenix after the 1995-96 season and became the Coyotes, fans took over the tradition and made it their own.
The Pittsburgh Penguins started their whiteout tradition at their previous arena, the "Igloo", during the 2008 Stanley Cup Playoffs when they made their magical run to the Stanley Cup Final, only to lose to the Detroit Red Wings in six games.
Saluting the Captain
In Ottawa, fans have developed a very different kind of tradition and its one that could end up lasting a while.
While this particular tradition may have started late in the regular season, it is one that has been given a greater importance this postseason. Of course, the tradition has to do with Senators’ team captain and franchise leader Daniel Alfredsson.
At the 11:11 minute mark of every period, Senators’ fans count down from 10 to 1 and chant "Alfie, Alfie, Alfie". It’s a nice gesture by the fans since this could be Alfredsson’s last postseason not only in a Senators uniform, but for his entire career as retirement may be looming.
Fans Singing the National Anthem
While someone singing the National Anthem is something that is done at most professional sporting events, it transcends itself when it comes to the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
In 2006, the Edmonton Oilers made a magical run to the Stanley Cup Final. The team lost to the Carolina Hurricanes in seven games in what was one of the most surprising runs in postseason history.
It was in that postseason that Oilers fans started the tradition of helping the anthem singers do their jobs, even the American one, prior to each postseason game.
Beard-a-thon
Lastly, we arrive at one of the most notable recent trends to take over the NHL playoffs.
Everyone involved in the game of hockey, whether it is fans or players, must face the daunting task of attempting to grow a beard that more often than not would make wives, friends and bosses cringe at the early sight of it.
The "playoff beard" tradition started in 1980 by the New York Islanders when they were on their journey to their first Stanley Cup. Following that, all levels of hockey began to participate by growing a playoff beard.
In 2009, the "Beard-a-Thon" campaign was started to encourage hockey fans to grow their own beards for charity. Since the campaign began it has raised over one million dollars to a variety of NHL charities.
Needless to say it was an easy sell to anyone and everyone who was waiting for that perfect opportunity to test their beard-growing ability.
