Hockey fans are known for their passionate displays of support, and sometimes, that passion manifests in the form of bizarre objects hurled onto the ice. While hats for a hat trick are commonplace, some fans have taken things to a whole new level of weird. Here are some of the craziest things ever thrown on the ice:
Octopuses: The tradition began in 1952 when Detroit Red Wings fans Pete and Jerry Cusimano threw an octopus onto the ice at Olympia Stadium. Each of the octopus's eight tentacles symbolized the eight wins the team needed to secure the Stanley Cup at the time. The Red Wings won the Stanley Cup that season, cementing the cephalopod as a good luck charm. Although the NHL has tried to discourage the practice, the octopus remains a symbol for the Red Wings, with a team mascot named "Al the Octopus".
Rats: In 1995, Florida Panthers winger Scott Mellanby killed a rat in the locker room before a game. That night, Mellanby scored two goals, leading his teammate John Vanbiesbrouck to call it a "rat trick". Soon after, Panthers fans began throwing plastic rats onto the ice after every goal. The tradition grew so popular that the team sold plastic rats at the arena. However, the NHL eventually implemented a rule that penalized teams if their fans threw objects onto the ice, effectively ending the "rat rain".
Hamburgers: During the 2014-2015 season, Ottawa Senators goalie Andrew Hammond, nicknamed "The Hamburglar," had a stellar run. To honor their goalie, Senators fans started throwing hamburgers onto the ice after wins and big saves. Teammate Curtis Lazar even took a bite out of one of the burgers after a victory.
Alberta Beef: In 2006, an Edmonton DJ encouraged Oilers fans to counter the Detroit Red Wings' octopus tradition by throwing Alberta beef onto the ice. Fans smuggled slabs of raw meat into Joe Louis Arena for Game 2 of the playoff series and threw it onto the ice when Edmonton scored. The Oilers won the game and the series, further cementing the bizarre ritual.
Sharks: Following Detroit's octopus tradition, San Jose Sharks fans decided to throw sharks onto the ice. In 2007, one fan managed to sneak a four-foot leopard shark into the HP Pavilion and hurl it onto the ice during a game against the Red Wings. In another instance, a shark was thrown onto the ice with an octopus sewn into its mouth.
Jerseys: When teams underperform, some fans express their disappointment by throwing their team jerseys onto the ice. This act of "self-excommunication" symbolizes the fan's frustration and disillusionment with the team.
Stink Bombs: A 2008 game between the New Jersey Devils and Philadelphia Flyers took a turn when a fan threw a stink bomb onto the ice. The smoke engulfed the arena, causing a delay and creating a chaotic scene.
Teddy Bears: While most objects thrown onto the ice are acts of individual expression, the teddy bear toss is an organized, charitable event. During the holiday season, many minor league and junior teams encourage fans to bring teddy bears to the game and throw them onto the ice after the home team scores its first goal. The bears are then collected and donated to children's charities. The Calgary Hitmen, for example, have collected over 25,000 teddy bears in a single event.
Snakes: In 2010, a Toronto Maple Leafs blogger suggested that Arizona Coyotes fans throw a rattlesnake onto the ice during a playoff game against the Detroit Red Wings. The idea gained traction on Twitter, but team officials ultimately rejected it.
Alarm Clocks: In the late 1950s, during a Montreal Canadiens losing streak, a fan threw an alarm clock onto the ice. When asked why, the fan quipped that he figured it was "time for the team to wake up".
