Very superstitious

Joe Pelletier — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 14:08:59 -0800

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!

hockey superstitions

Very superstitious

Equipment and sticks

Oddball goalies

Including your teammates