why did red wing fans throw octapus on the ice in the playoffs ?
438500
There are no better traditions in sports than in the game of hockey. One such tradition is the throwing of octopi onto the ice at Red Wings games. Here is the history... \n \nThe octopus first made it's appearance on April 15, 1952, during the Red Wings' Stanley Cup playoff run. Two Detroit brothers, Pete and Jerry Cusimano, who owned a fishmongers in the Eastern Market, threw one on the ice at Olympia Stadium. Each tentacle of the octopus was symbolic of a win in the playoffs. Back then, the NHL consisted of just the original six teams, and eight wins (two best-of-seven series) were needed to win the Stanley Cup. The Red Wings swept the series that year, and the Octopus has come to be the good luck charm ever since. \n\nThe tradition carried over to Joe Louis Arena on opening night in 1979 when several of the cephalopods found their way onto the ice. During the 1995 playoffs, Bob Dubisky and Larry Shotwell, co-workers at a meat and seafood retail company near Detroit, tossed a 38-pound octopus onto the ice during the National Anthem prior to Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals. The year after, the duo struck again with a 50-pounder in the Conference Finals. Although the feat received no airtime on the nationally broadcast game, the octopus was proudly displayed on the hood of the Zamboni between periods.
646725
They don't for a couple of reasons.\n\n1. It's "cool" to have as little on your head as possible.  If you're a LW in the NHL and you have a full cage, players (and people) are gonna laugh at you.\n\n2. The aquarium tends to fog up, and the bird cage can hamper your vision.\n\nThey require a visor in international and Olympic play.  College players are required to have full face protection.\n\nBesides, have you seen the "playoff beards"?  I don't think these guys are worried about their appearance.
412389
Its not violence. Really you think that???? Thats silly. They are trying to get the puck if that means to slam your oppenent into the wall then so be it.  Just like football when you tackel. There is alot more violence out on the streets we should worry about b4 hockey.\n\nHockey is the coolest sport, it goes to show how much a team really cares about their team mates, when someone gets checked then a fight breaks out its cuz that persons teammates are like H*ll no you ain't taking a cheap shot on our guy.\n\nGuess you gotta love it to get it.
1027911
Fans often threw an octopus onto the ice as a good luck charm.\nThe buy them at markets or fish them.\n\nLegend of The Octopus Encyclopedia\nhttp://www.karr.net/encyclopedia/Legend_of_the_Octopus/\n\nThe Legend of the Octopus is a sports tradition during Detroit Red Wings home games in which an octopus is thrown onto the ice surface for good luck during a playoff run. The origins of the activity go back to the 1952 playoffs, when a National Hockey League team played two best-of-seven series — needing to win eight games — to capture the Stanley Cup. The octopus, having eight arms, symbolized the number of playoff wins necessary for the Red Wings to win the Stanley Cup. The team swept the Toronto Maple Leafs and Montreal Canadiens en route to winning the championship, as well as winning two of the next three championships.\n\nSince 1952, because the tossing of octopuses is generally viewed as a successful symbol of good luck, the practice has persisted each year; in one 1995 game, fans threw 36 octopuses, including a 30-pounder[1]. The Red Wings mascot is a purple octopus named Al, and during playoff runs two of these mascots are also hung from the rafters of the Joe Louis Arena, symbolising the 16 wins now needed to win the Stanley Cup.\n\nIn recent years, however, animal rights groups, such as PETA, have objected to the activity, claiming that "flinging an octopus is no more acceptable than hurling kittens and puppies." [2]
352724
Were Americans watching anyway?  The answer to that is no, unfortunately.  I am a massive hockey fan, but I also happen to work in the television industry so I understand how ratings work and why ESPN dropped its coverage - it's hard to fault them for turning their back on the NHL (bowling was getting higher ratings... BOWLING, people...).  Americans don't particularly care about hockey enough in general, and while an All-Canadian final is unlikely (only Calgary and 8-seed Edmonton are alive out West), it would certainly turn off a few more televisions in the States.
580591
I was out of town with my girls team and was in net.  Someone shot the puck and I made an awesome save.  I covered it and waited for the whistle.  Finally it blew and I stood up.  I left the puck on the ice because I was in an unusual position.  So the ref came over and picked it up.  I was just standing there with my arm on the top of the net when I slip.  My skate just slips on the ice.  I was standing there are cool and show-offy and I slip.  The ref (young, and very cute) saw it and starting laughing.  I did too, but not before blushing.\n\nI know it may not sound very funny, but at the time it was.
458243
WHY IS IT GOING OVER THERE FOR??? HOCKEY IS EVEN PLAYED THERE?
849252
It's called being a responsible player.  Doing what you can to disrupt the flow of play for the Other team, which interference of the type you're talking about does, is universal in the nhl.  Are there other ways? Sure! But He, and Other players make Life difficult for the teams they play, and That is the goal of those actions. And he is Neither the Only player to do it or the Most flagrant.  Watch Sidney Crosby sometime.  Or Peter Forsberg.  There are Tons of nhler's who do that kind of thing.\n\nGo Rangers!\n\nUncle Mike.
945491
It's something to support his wrist. If you remember a few years back, he missed about 60 games because of a wrist injury. He doesn't fight like he used to, and he's starting to get better feeling in his wrist why he's able to shoot the puck so hard.
1057775
mourning?? \n\nThey had a good run no doubt about it. Gave the caines a good hard time... But remember Oilers have 5 Stanley Cups, Caines have 1. Thats not gonna change for a very very long time!. Not to mention better team?? Why is everyone suddenly forgetting that the oilers lost their best player, Dwayne Roloson. Had he survived game 1, the Cup would have been in the Oilers hands in game 6. Let's not forget that shall we?? So considering that the back goal tender did do pretty good for the amount of time he had, i'd say they did pretty good. :)\n\nCaines deserving win??? Sure they worked hard, but the Oilers have true heart, passion and commitment - the oilers undoubtedly deserved it much more! Carolina fan's didnt seem to into it and definitely uncomparable to the oilers fans, and what about that stupid cheerleader that sucked ass at singing the national anthems... holycrap I almost had to plug my ears.
753003
He's really fat and will sink the team whenever he walks onto the ice.  Bluejackets suck anyway whoever would cheer for them must be an idiot.  Columbus shouldn't have an NHL team.
488379
Its very tiring to skate back and forth on the ice, so they rotate people in and out to give them a rest.  The goalies dont skate around much, and so dont get as tired.
372845
It is foul play to hit the ball with the reverse side of the hockey stick. The reason it being classified as foul ***could be*** possibly that the curve on the reverse side of the hockey stick could set off the ball in direction not intended by the striker and confuse the striker and remaining players as well on the field.
860642
Philadelphia Phantoms vs. Chicago Wolves during the 2004-05 Calder Cup playoffs. Can't remember the players but a Phantom checked a Wolves forward into the bench area. The player landed backwards.\n\nTechnically, anything the "Mites on Ice" do is funny too.
722859
I'm not disappointed.  When I was there for the last Ducks/Sharks game at the Sharktank, the Sharks fans got too cocky for their own good.\n\nI think its karma.  They thought the Thorton /Cheechoo line was unbeatable.  Then when Toskala gave up that one goal by trying to play the puck, the entire game shifted to the Oilers.\n\nThe last clinch was the fans booing the Canadian anthem.  Sure, fans are posting they were not booing at the song but at the TV monitor... yeah, whatever, but the fact is, that fired up the Oilers and they beat the Sharks in 4 consecutive game.. because of Cockiness.\n\nSharks fans... have those Raider fans turned hockey fans stay home if you want to win.  Bad Karma for you
898903
Why is this question in the Hockey section?
400510
wow this is pretty hard to explain, theirs certian things like a hit is called a check and you cant check someone with 2 hands on your stick with your stick hitting your opponent and you cant use your elbow to hit some one and you cant trip anyone but hitting with your hip, shoulder or body is legal and fighting usually happenes which is one of the best parts of hockey thats what makes us hockey fans crazy but a fight you get penalized for its quite complicated but heres a site about the rules of hockey just incase your interested...learn and enjoy this is the best sport in the world