NHL Superstitions and Rituals: The Quirky Traditions That Define Hockey

Players in the high-stakes NHL depend on more than mere ability and plan to ensure success, especially since games are sometimes decided by inches. Deeply embedded in the fabric of hockey culture is superstitions and customs, which give an interesting insight into the minds of players convinced that fortune is as essential as ability. Pre-game rituals as well strange habits make up the game as much as the puck itself.


Superstitions offer many people a means of getting a mental advantage. Once goalkeeper Patrick Roy is noted for speaking to his goalposts during games, grateful to them for assisting him in saving. Roy once said, "It's all about focus." “If it works, you don't question it.” Wayne Gretzky, the NHL's leading all-time scorer, likewise always tucked his jersey into his pants on the right side before every match. It just felt correct, Gretzky said. "You go with what works."

For NHL players, consistency is vital; many have rigid pre-game rituals. Believing it helped him stay sharp, former Toronto Maple Leafs captain Mats Sundin ate chicken parmesan before every match. Others, like Brad Marchand of the Boston Bruins, stay off the blue line during warmups. Refusing to step on the team logo in the locker room, ex-defenseman Chris Pronger went still beyond. Pronger said: "It's all about respect." One does not bend customs.

Stopping shaving during the playoffs, one of hockey's most famous customs is the "playoff beard." Starting in the 1980s, this custom represents support and dedication. Former player Ryan Whitney says it is a badge of honor. When you notice your teammates developing their beards, you know everyone's fully engaged.

Their equipment becomes a good luck charm for others. Former goalie Ron Hextall used the same broken helmet for years, refusing to replace it. Others, including Sidney Crosby, have fortuitous gloves or sticks they use match after match.

Though these customs could appear unusual, they give players a sense of mastery in a volatile game. Former athlete Jeremy Roenick added that it is not about being too superstitious. It is about discovering something that gives you confidence and helps you to concentrate.
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Ultimately, hockey is a mental sport as much as it is a physical sport. For NHL athletes, too, rituals and superstitions offer a means of dealing with the demands of the game. Whether it's a fortunate pair of socks or a definite stick-taping approach, these customs serve to show the quirky, human side of hockey. All things considered, why would one want to test destiny in a game with so much at risk?