Is this something that is only done in certain arenas or under certain circumstances? I'm from a non-hockey background, but have been getting into it more and more and was just wondering. Thanks!
2007-01-24 06:11:18 · 12 answers · asked by R H 2 in Sports ➔ Hockey
It is something that is only local to Detroit.
I suppose if you have a Detroit fan somewhere else, it could happen, but it happens a lot less often now than it use to. It was mostly during the playoffs or just before the play offs and important games.
(April 1952 playoff game? Can anyone remember back to them having play offs in April? lol )
2007-01-24 06:20:05 · answer #1 · answered by JuanB 7 · 5⤊ 1⤋
The first octopus was tossed on the ice on April 15, 1952, during the Red Wings' Stanley Cup playoff run. Devoted fans of the team, Pete and Jerry Cusimano, two fishmonger brothers, tossed a mollusk onto the ice during the game at Olympia Stadium that fateful night.
Back then, the NHL consisted of six teams, and a team only needed eight wins (two best-of-seven playoff series) to win the Stanley Cup. Each tentacle of the octopus symbolized one playoff victory. The Wings won the Cup that year, and since then, octopi have made periodic appearances on the Detroit ice.
2007-01-24 06:21:48 · answer #2 · answered by jakester 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I grew up in the Detroit area, now I live in Utah. I know that at Detroit Red Wings games we had a tradition in the playoffs of throwing octopus on the ice. But I can't for the life of me remember why! - Tawnia Martin
A. The Motor City's proud tradition of saluting the Detroit Red Wings with slimy creatures of the deep dates back half a century.
The first octopus landed on the ice during the Red Wings' 1952 Stanley Cup run, courtesy of a couple of lads from a local fish shop. If you know your cephalopods, you will know that an octopus has eight tentacles. In those days it took eight playoff wins to claim the Cup, hence the supposed symbolism of the gesture.
2007-01-24 06:20:29 · answer #3 · answered by Mr. Lemur 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It's a Detroit thing started back in the early 50's when a team only had to win 8 games to capture the cup. If you look on the Red Wings web site you will find the story about the 2 brothers who owned a fish shop who started that.
2007-01-24 06:23:18 · answer #4 · answered by Bianca 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Back then, the NHL consisted of six teams, and a team only needed eight wins (two best-of-seven playoff series) to win the Stanley Cup. Each tentacle of the octopus symbolized one playoff victory. The Wings won the Cup that year. Now they do it for luck i think.
2007-01-24 06:20:23 · answer #5 · answered by Mustng0021 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Why wouldnt throwing an octopus onto the ice be signifigent? Im am hesitant to answer like that cause I hate to answer a question with a question, but this time it had to be done.
2007-01-24 08:08:01 · answer #6 · answered by Freddy G 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
DETROIT is the only city hat does that. It signifies the 8 games needed to win the stanley cup way back when there only 6 teams
2007-01-24 08:16:37 · answer #7 · answered by rda1002010 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think it is when a Detroit Red Wing scores a hat trick. Fans go nuts and threw octopus.
2007-01-24 07:15:19 · answer #8 · answered by zac y 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
A DETROIT-Hockeytown tradition for over 50 years. They've tried to stop fans from doing this but the tradition lives on!
2007-01-24 08:05:56 · answer #9 · answered by HarveyB 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Because Chelios and Hasek are getting so old they are starting to look like Jacques Cousteau. Also because most Red Wing wins are a little fishy.
2007-01-24 06:49:18 · answer #10 · answered by mapleleafskickass 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋