Squid/octopus thrown on the ice at hockey games??

Question

Hello! I was just wondering... is it every team that throws squid or octopus on the ice??
What has to happen for people to throw it on the ice??
Thanks!

Answer 1

Did some research and found out the reason. My original answer was "No one was amused". Ok so here goes the reason why those dingbats threw the smelly octopi.
Tradition. Apparently it had been done before to the same team in 1952. At that time (1952) their team was already in the playoffs. So these people who did this never did their homework.
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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.
(from:http://proicehockey.about.com/library/blquestions.htm)

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from epinions:http://www.epinions.com/content_2769526916
Do Not Throw Things On The Ice
Once again a no brainer, but the ONLY time to throw things on the ice is after a player scores his 3rd goal of the night (the elusive hat trick). One opinion mentions that a penalty could be called by doing this but they were off base. A short period of time is devoted to this ritual ,but only hats should be thrown and only during this stoppage. I have yet to see a penalty called for this-it's expected and goes smoothly if it is done correctly. Any other time it is foolish and moronic to toss things on the ice. It could injure a player as it's falling or if they should happen to skate over it. Plus, anything thrown on the ice (outside of a hat trick) can result in a penalty for delay of game on the home team. If your only reaction to a set back for your squad, no matter how many 3.2 beers you have sipped, is to throw things then you need help.

Answer 2

Octopus In Hockey

Answer 3

Detroit Red Wings fans throw real octopi on the ice. Also, back in the '90s, Florida Panther fans would throw plastic rats on the ice after either a hat trick or a win and that tradition was banned after a moron threw a live rat at the Penguins bench back in 97 or 98. Some teams have thier traditions, but they are being taken away because idiots screw it up. The octopus tradition has been around for a number of years since 1952, but animal rights activists have made sure that the animals arent tossed onto the ice anymore. People are either removed from the game or are fined, depending on the severity of their actions.

Answer 4

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
Squid/octopus thrown on the ice at hockey games??
Hello! I was just wondering... is it every team that throws squid or octopus on the ice??
What has to happen for people to throw it on the ice??
Thanks!

Answer 5

Throwing things on the ice is now not allowed in the NHL, next to hats for a hat-trick because it slows the game down. The octopus were thrown on the ice in Detroit, when it was still allowed. It was their thing. It was something that started in the 50"s during on of their playoff runs. Oilers fans followed this up last spring with their own rendition, throwing Alberta beef on the ice during their playoff run. Of course this started because of their first round against Detroit, but they continued it right to the finals... (if they got the beef into the building and actually were able to get it onto the ice). The Florida Panthers fans threw plastic rats onto the ice for hat-tricks in the mid 90's because of a player that killed a rat in the locker room.

Answer 6

It is only the Red Wings that do this. It started in the fifties when 8 wins meant a stanley cup, thus the eight legs of the octopus. They still do it to this day during playoff games.

Answer 7

Only Octopus at Red Wing games. Nothing happens to you if you're at the JLA

Answer 8

A great hockey tradition that is associated with the Red Wings. Sadly Bettman is trying to do away with all traditions in hockey so enjoy this one while its still around.

Answer 9

As others have said, it is a tradition that was set back in the 50s because the Wings won 8 games in a row to win the Stanley Cup, hence the 8 legged animal.

Oh and to "Quite New Here", are you a ******* idiot? Your one of those little bitches who just whines about anything because your favorite team is probably not gonna make the playoffs, therefor, you have to take your frustration out on the best team in league because they have an awsome tradition, that you wish your team would have anywhere near as cool. I"m gonna take a stab in the Dark and say that your a Maple Leafs fan, thinking that every year is gonna be "your year", getting your hopes up even though you know that your team is probably not gonna get close to the stanley cup, therefor your pissed off because you wish you had a team half as good as the Wings, and you just have to find something wrong/diffrent about their fans. Its a ******* tradition smart ***, show some class, why don't you look up what "class" means too and make fun of that.

Answer 10

It's a long established Detroit tradition, 55 years. And more of a playoff thing. So generally their team has to be doing well in the playoffs before you see one. And yes, they are real. never seen a plastic one used.