As skilled athletes, NHL hockey gamers will do no matter it takes to achieve success on the ice. On prime of their on and off-ice coaching and preparation, many gamers all through NHL historical past have adopted unusual, typically disturbing superstitions with the intention to guarantee their on-ice success.
Oddly sufficient, among the greatest gamers to have performed within the NHL are these with the wackiest, most sudden superstitions. Superstitions aren’t restricted strictly to gamers, as complete groups typically observe particular rituals to assist their group win.
Patrick’s Posts
Inanimate objects can’t speak. Oh, wait, what’s that, Patrick? They will?
You learn that proper; Corridor of Fame goaltender Patrick Roy had conversations together with his goalposts, though all they ever needed to say again was “ping.” Roy did this as a result of he felt it helped enhance his recreation and that he would play higher with the goalposts on his facet. Actually.
The superstition started in the course of the 1986 Stanley Cup Playoffs in opposition to the Hartford Whalers. Roy stated it began by chance in the course of the nationwide anthems:
They (the goalposts) helped me, and I performed a superb recreation. In extra time a man took a slapshot and hit the put up however we gained.
What precisely would Roy say to his posts?
Come on guys assist me out. Earlier than the sport I give them route. The goalposts are all the time with me. They speak again to me. Some nights they are saying ‘bing’. However some nights they’ve a foul evening, too.
As loopy because it sounds, Roy’s superstition would assist pave the best way to a incredible profession. Roy went on to win 4 Stanley Cups and three Vezina Trophies.
No Extra Nerves
Seemingly probably the most disturbing superstition in NHL historical past belongs to Corridor of Famer Glenn Corridor, often known as “Mr. Goalie.”
Corridor would drive himself to vomit earlier than every recreation in a bodily disturbing ritual, particularly later in his profession. Why? Just like Roy, he had the superstition that doing so would enhance his on-ice efficiency.
I acquired the sensation I wasn’t giving every thing I had if I didn’t undergo it. I additionally felt I performed higher. I felt if I wasn’t wired, I wasn’t taking part in properly. I’d rise up within the morning and I couldn’t look forward to recreation time.
Corridor felt that to dwell as much as his personal excessive normal of play, he needed to discover a method to deal with and relieve the strain of taking part in hockey video games of large significance. Clearly, his choice to take action paid off in the long term, as he not solely raised the Stanley Cup however gained three Vezina Trophies and was inducted into the Hockey Corridor of Fame in 1975 with 407 profession wins.
My Valuable!
Eddie “The Eagle” Belfour was an incredible goalie in his NHL profession. Inducted to the Hockey Corridor of Fame in 2011, he gained a Stanley Cup, two Vezina Trophies, and 484 video games in his profession. Alongside the best way, Belfour had, like many, a superstition.
Belfour’s superstition was connected to his goalie tools. He refused to let anyone aside from himself contact any article of his tools. The superstition was so robust, in truth, that he was recognized to threaten those that got here close to or touched his tools.
In the event you contact my stuff, I’ll kill you.
Clearly not severe relating to the menace, it’s clear simply how particular he was about who touched his tools, as he felt he performed at his greatest when solely he had touched it. Belfour was additionally recognized to utterly disassemble elements of his tools, equivalent to his glove if he had a foul recreation or let in a mushy aim.
The Nice One and Child Powder?
That’s proper, one of many many superstitions of Wayne Gretzky was making use of child powder to his stick earlier than video games.
Gretzky may very well be probably the most superstitious participant within the league’s storied historical past. Does this imply that superstitions result in success? I might say no. However for the “Nice One,” they definitely didn’t damage.
On prime of his use of child powder:
- He refused to ever have his hair lower whereas on the highway. The one time he did have it lower, his group misplaced horribly.
- He all the time put his tools on in a particular order. His backside half left to proper and prime half left to proper.
- In warm-ups, he would purposely miss his first shot on internet extensive proper.
- Following warm-ups, he would drink drinks in a selected order: food plan Coke, water, Gatorade and one other food plan Coke.
It’s exhausting to argue with these odd rituals contemplating Gretzky gained 4 Stanley Cups, numerous awards, scored 2857 profession factors, and has a spot within the Corridor of Fame.
Sidney Crosby, the Perfectionist
Once I say perfectionist, it’s not a reference to his recreation on the ice however Crosby’s superstition together with his hockey sticks.
Together with his sticks, every should be lower to a particular size and taped in a particular method. As soon as they’re taped, nobody can contact them, and in the event that they do, Crosby is pressured to completely re-tape the stick, feeling that the stick won’t carry out because it ought to until dealt with by him alone.
Crosby’s different superstition shouldn’t be calling his mom on recreation days. The 3 times he has carried out so have resulted in three important accidents; a dislocated shoulder, damaged foot, and shattered enamel.
Palms Off the {Hardware}!
The most effective-known superstitions in NHL historical past is the selection groups face after successful both the Jap or Western Convention Last. Introduced with both the Prince of Wales Trophy or Clarence S. Campbell Bowl, the successful group should resolve whether or not to the touch the trophy in receiving it or not contact it.
A ridiculous superstition, gamers imagine that receiving or touching the Convention Trophy is a foul omen and reduces a group’s probabilities of successful the Stanley Cup. But all through NHL historical past, this appears to not be the case, as groups that selected to the touch a convention trophy are inclined to go on to win the Stanley Cup roughly 50% of the time.
In 2008, Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins elected to not contact the Prince of Wales Trophy and misplaced within the Stanley Cup Last. A yr later, Crosby selected to choose up the Trophy, and the Penguins went on to win the Stanley Cup.
Different Odd Hockey Superstitions:
- Chris Chelios: Final individual to placed on his jersey earlier than a recreation.
- Jocelyn Thibault: Would pour water on his head six and a half minutes earlier than a recreation.
- Joe Nieuwendyk: Ate two items of toast with peanut butter earlier than each recreation.
- Brendan Shanahan: Wore his junior hockey shoulder pads in Detroit, listened to Madonna pre-game.
- Karl Alzner: Faucets stick 88 occasions, traces maple leaf define earlier than nationwide anthems conclude.
This text was initially written in December 2014.
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