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Hockey players often rely on rituals and superstitions to find comfort and gain a perceived edge in the fast-paced, unpredictable nature of the game. Among professional athletes, they are known for some of the most intense pre-game routines and lucky charms. These traditions, passed down through generations, connect players to a unique sporting subculture, reinforcing both their confidence and sense of belonging.
Sports superstitions in hockey go beyond being strange customs because they offer psychological functions to players. Sports experts believe that athletes use pre-game rituals to establish feelings of mental authority in a sport which aims to predict unpredictable moments. The physical gameplay preparations join with mental preparation to form a consistent practice which facilitates athletes as they shift into a competitive mental state.
The Playoff Beard
Perhaps hockey's most visible superstition is the playoff beard. This tradition began with the New York Islanders dynasty of the early 1980s when players stopped shaving during playoff runs. The longer the beard, the deeper the playoff journey—and hopefully, the closer to hoisting the Stanley Cup. Today, even fans embrace this tradition, growing their own facial hair in solidarity with their favourite teams.
Equipment Rituals
Hockey players develop intimate relationships with their equipment, often to obsessive degrees:
Patrick Roy, a legendary goaltender, would speak to his goalposts during games, thanking them when shots hit the post instead of going in.
Sidney Crosby has worn the same jockstrap since junior hockey (regularly washed, thankfully) and insists nobody touches his sticks.
Alexander Ovechkin applies stick tape with meticulous precision in exactly the same pattern before every game.
Some players refuse to wash lucky socks or undergarments during winning streaks, creating locker room situations that teammates must endure for the greater good of the team.
Game-Day Routines
The pre-game ritual can be an elaborate dance of precise timing and sequencing:
Wayne Gretzky would put his gear on in exactly the same order before each game, applying baby powder to his stick handle.
Bruce Gardiner, former Ottawa Senator, would dip his stick blade in the toilet before games—a ritual his teammates called "baptizing" his stick.
Pekka Rinne, former Nashville Predators goaltender, would splash water on his face exactly 17 times before each period.
Team Traditions and Collective Rituals
Superstitions don't stop at individual players. Entire teams develop collective rituals:
The Detroit Red Wings tradition of throwing octopi onto the ice dates back to 1952 when eight tentacles symbolized the eight wins needed to win the Stanley Cup at that time.
The tradition of not touching the conference championship trophies to avoid jinxing chances in the Stanley Cup Finals.
Teams often refuse to say the words "shutout" or "hat trick" while they're in progress, fearing it will jinx the outcome.
The Home Advantage: Fan Superstitions
Fans develop their own rituals in solidarity with their teams. For example:
Wearing unwashed "lucky" jerseys during winning streaks.
Sitting in the same seats or watching from the same spot at home.
Performing specific chants or movements at crucial game moments.
The collective superstitions create a shared experience that bonds the hockey community together through both triumph and heartbreak.
Despite the modern NHL's emphasis on analytics and science-based training, superstitions continue to thrive. Today's players might combine traditional rituals with rigorous preparation:
Connor McDavid follows a meticulously planned nutrition and warm-up routine but still insists on being the last player off the ice after a pre-game skate.
Teams employ sports psychologists and performance coaches while still observing traditional superstitions like playoff beards.
The coexistence of science and superstition illustrates how deeply these rituals are woven into hockey's cultural fabric.
While most rituals are harmless, sometimes they can become problematic. Sports psychologists differentiate between performance-enhancing routines and obsessive-compulsive behaviours that might indicate anxiety disorders. The key distinction is whether the ritual enhances performance or whether a player feels they cannot perform without it.
Some hockey superstitions have become myths passed down through generations:
The curse of touching the Stanley Cup before earning it.
The sophomore slump that affects second-year players.
The mythic power of the "hot goalie" who seems unbeatable during streaks.
These beliefs persist because hockey, despite its modern trappings, remains a sport where momentum and confidence play crucial roles in success—and where players will grab onto anything that might provide an edge.
Whether based on psychology, team bonding, or pure coincidence, hockey superstitions add colour and character to the sport. They connect today's players with legends of the past through shared traditions and offer glimpses into the mental strategies athletes use to perform under pressure.
Next time you watch a hockey game, pay attention to the rhythmic tapping of sticks before faceoffs, the specific paths players take to the ice, or the order in which they exit—you're witnessing the modern iteration of traditions that have been part of the sport for generations.
While we can't guarantee that your superstitions will affect the outcome of the big game, we can promise a way to make your hockey watch parties more engaging and interactive. Watch Party Games offers Puck Drop, a hockey-themed card game that captures the strategic elements and excitement of the sport, letting you and your friends experience your own moments of hockey glory right from your living room.
Our hockey card game features cards that mirror real hockey situations, player types, and momentum shifts that occur during actual NHL games. Whether your team is on a winning streak or needs a change of fortune, these games add another dimension to your hockey-watching experience—no playoff beard required (though we certainly won't discourage one!).
Discover our full lineup of sports-themed games, including hockey card games, that turn everyday fans into part of the action. After all, the only superstition we believe in is that good times with friends make every game better.
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