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Sex objects, octopuses and other things fans throw

Al Sobotka

Joe Louis Arena building manager Al Sobotka swings an octopus before Game 7 of an NHL hockey Western Conference semifinal series between the Detroit Red Wings and the Anaheim Ducks, Thursday, May 14, 2009, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)

AP

In the previous post, I commented on the thoroughly amusing and bizarre #ThrowTheSnake meme on Twitter. Naturally, such silly things might only live in the imaginations of creative hockey fans. That being said, it got me to thinking: what are some of the most notable traditions when it comes to people throwing debris onto the ice in the honor of goals, victories or their team in general? To make sure I covered as many (though, by no means all) of the bases, I asked my blogging buddy Tapeleg. Besides being a treasure chest of hockey knowledge, I accompanied the man to a Texas Brahmas game and took part in a tradition in which fans threw rubber bulls (or, you know, Brahmas) onto the ice after the team scored a goal. Naturally, this moment - along with his extensive minor league experience - made me think to ask him for some suggestions. Our very own Joe Yerdon also was crucial in finding some of the oddball customs.

After the jump, I chronicle both traditional and totally odd things fans love to throw on the ice.

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Here’s a brief collection of some of the quirky things hockey fans throw onto the ice - because sometimes, a hat just isn’t enough. Again, it would be almost unthinkable to be comprehensive with this, so please add your favorite omissions in the comments.Hats: Obviously.

Detroit’s octopus: The gold standard in ice assaulting objects, the tradition originated when the Red Wings were going for their eighth championship. (Get it, an octopus has eight tentacles?) High marks for ingenuity there.

Florida’s rats: During the Panthers brief courtship with hockey relevance, fans would throw plastic rats after big goals. Fans also serenaded the Cinderella team with the imitation vermin after the team was swept by the Colorado Avalanche in the Stanley Cup Finals.

#ThrowTheSnake: Will this become the Twitter-mandated tradition for the Coyotes?

Fake corn on the cob: Tapeleg has seen it in action, in Laredo, TX. (See the photo from Tapeleg.)

Caps fans’ hat trick confusion: Twitter had a field day when Capitals fans threw hats on the ice after a player who had two regulation goals scored a shootout goal.

Teddy bears: Tapeleg points out this awesome, charity-fueled tradition.

Fish: Joe Yerdon points out that certain fans enjoy throwing fish onto the ice. Apparently it might be a Cornell tradition when the team plays against Harvard and University of North Hampshire fans enjoy doing it too.

Sex objects. Yes, sex objects: Apparently some OHL fans love puns even more than I do. They decided to throw sex objects on the ice in honor of Cory Pecker. And ... I’m just going to leave the jokes to you on that one. Edit: Puck Daddy also has ... more. *cough*

Also: Frisbees, bras, tennis balls, garbage cans and more: Finally, I’ll leave you with this awesome video “The Top 10 things thrown onto the ice” via Tapeleg. Again, big thanks to him and Joe for the suggestions.