As we all know goalies used to play every game without a mask. That all changed by the 1970s as the new generation of goalies all donned facial protection. They wouldn’t even think of stopping pucks without their mask.

So that makes one particular incident in the playoffs of 1971 very interesting. A line brawl broke out in game two of the series between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the New York Rangers. A long delay ensued because one of the Rangers forwards, Vic Hadfield, threw Toronto goalie Bernie Parent’s mask into the crowd of Madison Square Gardens.

New York fans are renowned for their antics, so you knew right away they were not going to give the mask back to the opposition’s goaltender. Toronto executive King Clancy, still as fiesty as he was when he played the game decades earlier, stormed into the hostile crowd after the mask. This got the police involved on the search but that mask was never to be seen again.

In those days it was too expensive to create and carry spare masks. With the game already out of hand, Parent took to the bench and let back up goalie Jacques Plante finish the game.

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All sports fans and athletes know superstitions are common. Hockey is no different, with the playoff beard and using the same underwear being the most common. Some players eat the same meal before games, others have to wear their lucky tie to the rink.

But let’s take a look at some of the more bizarre hockey rituals.

Equipment and sticks

Players tend to be most superstitious with their equipment, but especially with sticks.

Wayne Gretzky always put his equipment on in the exact same sequence. Oh, and he never got his hair cut while on a road trip.

Ray Bourque would change his skate laces every game. Once the game was over, he would throw the pair away.

Joe Nieuwendyk would sprinkle baby powder on the blade of his sticks before each game.

Off the ice Vinny Lecavalier won’t let his stick touch the ground, while Daniel Briere talks to his.

Sidney Crosby is not quite that particular, but once he’s done taping his sticks for the game he will not let anyone else touch them.

Meanwhile teammate Evgeni Malkin insists upon bouncing a puck off of trainer Chris Stewart’s foot at the end of the pre-game warm up.

Darryl Sydor always likes to lean his stick up against the same black scuff mark on the wall. Once the arena crews painted the entire wall. The next day the scuff mark was returned in the exact same place.

Not everyone was kind to their sticks though. Petr Klima would break each stick after scoring a goal because he believed each stick had only one goal in it. Former Ottawa Senator Bruce Gardiner would dip his skate blade in the toilet before each game.

Oddball goalies

Goalies in particular are known for their oddities. Then again, if you had to stop 100mph frozen bullets for a living it would probably help to be a bit on the odd side.

Patrick Roy talked to his “best friends,” his goal posts. He also never skated across the blue line or center red line, consciously stepping over each instead.

“Mr. Goalie” Glenn Hall threw up before every game he started. Darren Pang copied this trend.

The great Jacques Plante spent much of his travelling time by himself while knitting.

In between periods Pelle Lindbergh would have the same drink every game, but it had to have exactly two ice cubes in it and had to be delivered by the same team trainer.

An old and well travelled goalie by the name of Gary “Suitcase” Smith used to shower in between each period.

Including your teammates

Teams tend to have their collective superstitions, as well.

In 1950-51 the New York Rangers were struggling mightily until a local restaurant owner made a “magic elixer.” After drinking it, the Rangers won! So they ordered many bottles and went on an 11 games winning streak.

The Philadelphia Flyers believed an anthem singer was their good luck charm. When the late Kate Smith sang “God Bless America” before a Flyers game, either in person or on video, the Flyers have posted an amazing 62-13-3 record.

In the 1970s the Toronto Maple Leafs coach Red Kelly employed “Pyramid Power,” placing small pyramids on the bench and in the dressing room. For whatever reason, the players seemed to think it worked.

Then there was the truly bizarre belief a rotting cob of corn brought good luck. The long defunct Ottawa Nationals of the old World Hockey Association rubbed a half eaten cob of corn before each of the team’s final 13 games of the 1972-73 season, in desperate hopes that it would bring them good luck and a playoff spot. It worked, as the Nationals won 12 of those games and made the post-season.

The idea that any of these crazy routines has any affect on the outcome of a sporting event is, of course, completely ridiculous. But these quirks can also be a lot of fun and a great way to bring your team closer and less stressed before the big game. They can also give you and your team a psychological advantage.

So if it works, don’t change it!

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Player loses nose, finds it in Zamboni.

In the 7th round of the 1986 NHL Entry Draft, the Edmonton Oilers selected a Slovakian by the name of Ivan Matulik. He dreamed of playing in the National Hockey League, but despite spending parts of six seasons with the Oilers farm teams, he never did make it to the big leagues.

Unfortunately for Matulik, the only thing noteworthy he did in North America was lose his nose.

You see, while playing for the Halifax Citadels in the 1991-92 season, Matulik had the tip of his nose sliced off by a skate. Players searched for the nose, but they could not find it. Matulik went to the hospital, probably suffering from the shock as much as the pain.

Fortunately for Matulik the nose was found after the game in the icy slush deposited by the Zamboni! Since the nose was so well preserved, doctors were able to re-attach the nose to Matulik's face.

The gruesome injury did not scare off the young Slovakian. He loved the game very much and returned to the ice and enjoyed a long career. He returned to Europe and went on to become one of the top players in Great Britain of all places, starring in both England and Wales.

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Believe it or not in the early days of hockey it was against the rules for goalies to fall to the ice to stop the puck! They were to remain standing at all times, and were subject to a minor penalty at the referee's discretion if they did fall to the ice. There are even some reports of goalies who were fined a whole $2 for the foul.

The National Hockey League changed the rule in 1917-18 season, thanks in large part to an Ottawa goalie named Clint Benedict. Benedict made an art out of the accidental fall on the puck. He spent so much time on his knees on the ice that he quickly earned the nickname Praying Bennie!

He also publicly admitted that "if you did it a bit sneaky and made it look accidental, you could fall on the puck without being penalized." These comments made NHL rule makers aware of the problem and from that point on goaltenders were allowed to fall to the ice to stop pucks.

Benedict was a highly influential goalie of his time. He actually wore the first mask in NHL history, not Jacques Plante as is popularly believed. He was also one of the earliest star goalies, playing an amazing 17 seasons and winning 4 Stanley Cups. As such he became the hero so many young goalies wanted to become themselves one day.