" The New York Times. Retrieved June 11, 2008. ^ Carbray, Paul (October 5, 1987). "Jays Join '64 Phils in Baseball Infamy". The Gazette. p. C1. In the seventh inning yesterday, a fan threw an octopus that landed near the dugout of the Toronto Blue Jays. ^ Gave, Keith (October 6, 1987). "Tiger Corner". Detroit Free Press. p. 3D.
[1] History[edit] Since 1952, the practice has persisted with each passing year. In one 1995 game, fans threw 36 octopuses, including a specimen weighing 38 pounds (17 kg). [2] The Red Wings' unofficial mascot is a purple octopus named Al, and during playoff runs, two of these mascots were also hung from the rafters of Joe Louis Arena, symbolizing the 16 wins now needed to take home the Stanley Cup. [3] The practice has become such an accepted part of the team's lore, fans have developed various techniques and "octopus etiquette" for launching the creatures onto the ice. [4] On October 4, 1987, the last day of the regular Major League Baseball season, an octopus was thrown on the field in the top of the seventh inning at Tiger Stadium in Detroit as the Tigers defeated the Toronto Blue Jays, 1–0, clinching the AL East division championship.
^ Benvin, Paul (August 29, 2009). "8 Legged Freaks: The Legend of Detroit's Lucky Octopi". The Hockey Writers. Retrieved February 25, 2019. ^ Mallozzi, Vincent M. (May 20, 2007). "Wrapping His Arms Around the Red Wings". The New York Times. Retrieved October 29, 2018. ^ Bradsher, Keith (April 14, 1996). "When Octopuses Are Flying in Detroit It's...
[5] In May of that year, the Red Wings had defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs in the Stanley Cup playoffs. [6] At the final game at Joe Louis Arena, 35 octopuses were thrown onto the ice. [7] Twirling ban[edit] Al Sobotka, the former head ice manager at Little Caesars Arena and one of the two Zamboni drivers, was the person who retrieved the thrown octopuses from the ice. When the Red Wings played at Joe Louis Arena, he was known to twirl an octopus above his head as he walked across the ice rink to the Zamboni entrance. On April 19, 2008, the NHL sent the Red Wings a memo that forbade this and imposed a $10, 000 fine for violating the mandate. In an email to the Detroit Free Press, NHL spokesman Frank Brown justified the ban because matter flew off the octopus and got on the ice when Sobotka swung it above his head.
^ Wyshynski, Greg (April 9, 2017). "Red Wings fans threw 35 octopuses on ice in Joe Louis Arena farewell". Yahoo Sports. Retrieved March 10, 2021. ^ "NHL bans octopus swinging; $10, 000 fine for offenders". April 19, 2008. Archived from the original on May 1, 2008. Retrieved May 10, 2008. ^ "Octopus-gate takes another dramatic turn". April 25, 2008. Archived from the original on April 30, 2008. Retrieved May 30, 2008. ^ "Rejoice: Octopus twirling OK again! ". May 7, 2008. Archived from the original on November 7, 2015. Retrieved February 25, 2019. ^ McKee, Sandra (June 23, 1995). "Devils dominate Red Wings, 5-2 1995 STANLEY CUP FINALS". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved July 17, 2018.
The first recorded instance occurred on January 26, 1999 during a game between the Detroit Red Wings and the Nashville Predators. It was done in response to the Red Wings' tradition. [12][13] In the 2006 Stanley Cup playoffs, during the opening-round series between the Wings and the Edmonton Oilers, an Edmonton radio host suggested throwing Alberta Beef on the ice before the game.
[15] During the 2008 Stanley Cup Finals, in which the Red Wings defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins, seafood wholesalers in Pittsburgh, led by Wholey's Fish Market, began requiring identification from customers who purchased octopuses, refusing to sell to buyers from Michigan. [16] This also took place in the lead up to the 2017 Stanley Cup Finals with markets refusing to sell catfish to Tennessee residents.
[8] In an article describing the effects of the new rule, the Detroit Free Press dubbed the NHL's prohibition as "Octopus-gate". [9] By the beginning of the third round of the 2008 Playoffs, the NHL loosened the ban to allow for the octopus twirling to take place at the Zamboni entrance. [10] Events inspired by the octopus[edit] The octopus tradition has launched several other creature and object tossing moments: During Game 3 of the 1995 Stanley Cup Finals between the Detroit Red Wings and the New Jersey Devils, Devils fans threw a lobster, a dead fish, and other objects onto the ice. [11] Nashville Predators fans throw catfish onto their home ice.
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