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[[File:Legend of the Octopus, Joe Louis Arena, Detroit, Michigan (21677558306).jpg|thumb|250px|[[Al the Octopus]], the mascot of the Detroit Red Wings, was inspired by the Legend of the Octopus.]]
The '''Legend of the Octopus''' is a sports tradition during [[Detroit Red Wings]] home playoff games involving dead [[octopus|octopuses]] thrown onto the [[Ice hockey rink|ice rink]]. The origins of the activity go back to the [[1951–52 NHL season|1952 playoffs]], when a [[National Hockey League]] team played two best-of-seven series to capture the [[Stanley Cup]]. Having eight arms, the octopus symbolized the number of playoff wins necessary for the Red Wings to win the Stanley Cup.
==History==
The Legend of the Octopus began on April 15, 1952, when Pete and Jerry Cusimano, brothers and storeowners in [[Eastern Market, Detroit|Detroit's Eastern Market]], hurled an octopus into the rink of [[Detroit Olympia|Olympia Stadium]]. The team swept the [[Toronto Maple Leafs]] and [[Montreal Canadiens]] en route to winning the championship.<ref>{{cite web|title=Legend of the Octopus|url=http://redwings.ice.nhl.com/club/page.htm?id=43781|website=NHL.com|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170628133137/http://redwings.ice.nhl.com/club/page.htm?id=43781|archivedate=June 28, 2017|access-date=September 27, 2013}}</ref>
Since 1952, the practice has persisted with each passing year. In one 1995 game, fans threw 36 octopuses, including a specimen weighing {{Convert|38|lb|kg|0}}.<ref>{{cite news|first=Paul|last=Benvin|title=8 Legged Freaks: The Legend of Detroit's Lucky Octopi|url=https://thehockeywriters.com/detroit-octopus-nhl-legend/|website=The Hockey Writers|date=August 29, 2009|access-date=February 25, 2019|archive-date=October 30, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181030205858/https://thehockeywriters.com/detroit-octopus-nhl-legend/|url-status=live}}</ref> The Red Wings' unofficial mascot is a purple octopus named [[Al the Octopus|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.<ref>{{cite web|first=Vincent M.|last=Mallozzi|title=Wrapping His Arms Around the Red Wings|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/20/sports/hockey/20cheer.html|website=The New York Times|date=May 20, 2007|access-date=October 29, 2018|archive-date=October 29, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181029232533/https://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/20/sports/hockey/20cheer.html|url-status=live}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite news|first=Keith|last=Bradsher|title=When Octopuses Are Flying in Detroit It's...|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1996/04/14/us/when-octopuses-are-flying-in-detroit-it-s.html|website=The New York Times|date=April 14, 1996|access-date=June 11, 2008|archive-date=May 27, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090527211957/http://www.nytimes.com/1996/04/14/us/when-octopuses-are-flying-in-detroit-it-s.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
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 (Detroit)|Tiger Stadium]] in Detroit as the [[Detroit Tigers|Tigers]] defeated the [[Toronto Blue Jays]], 1–0, clinching the [[American League East]] division championship.<ref>{{cite news |last=Carbray |first=Paul |date=1987-10-05 |title=Jays Join '64 Phils in Baseball Infamy |work=[[Montreal Gazette|The Gazette]] |page=C1 |quote=In the seventh inning yesterday, a fan threw an octopus that landed near the dugout of the Toronto Blue Jays.}}</ref> In May of that year, the Red Wings had defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs in the [[1987 Stanley Cup playoffs|Stanley Cup playoffs]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Gave |first=Keith |date=1987-10-06 |title=Tiger Corner |work=[[Detroit Free Press]] |page=3D}}</ref>
At the final game at Joe Louis Arena in 2017, 35 octopuses were thrown onto the ice.<ref>{{cite web|first=Greg|last=Wyshynski|title=Red Wings fans threw 35 octopuses on ice in Joe Louis Arena farewell|url=https://sports.yahoo.com/news/red-wings-fans-threw-35-octopuses-ice-joe-louis-arena-farewell-004926074.html|website=Yahoo Sports|date=April 9, 2017|access-date=March 10, 2021|archive-date=September 11, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210911123816/https://sports.yahoo.com/news/red-wings-fans-threw-35-octopuses-ice-joe-louis-arena-farewell-004926074.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
=== Twirling ban ===
[[Al Sobotka]], the former head ice manager at [[Little Caesars Arena]] and one of the two [[Ice resurfacer|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.<ref>{{cite web|title=NHL bans octopus swinging; $10,000 fine for offenders|url=http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080419/SPORTS05/804190350/1053/SPORTS05|website=Detroit Free Press|date=April 19, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080501054720/http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20080419%2FSPORTS05%2F804190350%2F1053%2FSPORTS05|archive-date=May 1, 2008|access-date=May 10, 2008}}</ref> In an article describing the effects of the new rule, the ''Detroit Free Press'' dubbed the NHL's prohibition as "Octopus-gate".<ref>{{cite web|title=Octopus-gate takes another dramatic turn|url=http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080425/SPORTS05/80425013/1053/SPORTS05|website=Detroit Free Press|date=April 25, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080430152353/http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20080425%2FSPORTS05%2F80425013%2F1053%2FSPORTS05|archive-date=April 30, 2008|access-date=May 30, 2008}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web|title=Rejoice: Octopus twirling OK again!|url=http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080508/BLOG09/80507089/1053/SPORTS05&GID=771j3dyQ+AQCnttsrVgjwWD4sfSxMX0h+vLkaxJ94c0%3D|date=May 7, 2008|website=Detroit Free Press|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151107081758/http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20080508%2FBLOG09%2F80507089%2F1053%2FSPORTS05&GID=771j3dyQ%2BAQCnttsrVgjwWD4sfSxMX0h%2BvLkaxJ94c0%3D|archive-date=November 7, 2015|access-date=February 25, 2019}}</ref>
=== Events inspired by the octopus ===
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.<ref>{{cite web|first=Sandra|last=McKee|title=Devils dominate Red Wings, 5-2 1995 STANLEY CUP FINALS|url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-1995-06-23-1995174119-story.html|website=The Baltimore Sun|date=June 23, 1995|access-date=July 17, 2018|archive-date=June 22, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210622181043/https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-1995-06-23-1995174119-story.html|url-status=live}}</ref>▼
[[Nashville Predators]] fans throw [[catfish]] onto their home ice.<ref>{{cite news|first=Cam|last=Tucker|title=Report: Predators fan charged after throwing catfish on ice during Game 1|url=https://nhl.nbcsports.com/2017/05/30/report-predators-fan-charged-after-throwing-catfish-on-ice-during-game-1/|website=NBC Sports|date=May 30, 2017|access-date=May 30, 2017|archive-date=June 2, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170602015206/http://nhl.nbcsports.com/2017/05/30/report-predators-fan-charged-after-throwing-catfish-on-ice-during-game-1/|url-status=live}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web|first=Teresa M.|last=Walker|title=Fish Tale From Nashville: How The Catfish Toss Came To Be A Predators thing|url=https://www.courant.com/sports/hockey/hc-stanley-cup-catfish-0603-20170602-story.html|website=Hartford Courant|agency=Associated Press|date=June 2, 2017|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170608115241/https://www.courant.com/sports/hockey/hc-stanley-cup-catfish-0603-20170602-story.html|archivedate=June 8, 2017|access-date=January 23, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|first=Brad|last=Schmitt|title=Predators: Why do Preds fans throw catfish during NHL Playoffs?|url=https://www.tennessean.com/story/sports/nhl/predators/2018/04/12/nashville-predators-why-do-fans-throw-catfish-nhl-stanley-cup-playoffs-bridgestone-arena/508025002/|website=The Tennessean|date=April 12, 2018|access-date=January 23, 2020|archive-date=March 7, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240307022304/https://www.tennessean.com/story/sports/nhl/predators/2018/04/12/nashville-predators-why-do-fans-throw-catfish-nhl-stanley-cup-playoffs-bridgestone-arena/508025002/|url-status=live}}</ref>▼
▲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.<ref>{{cite web|first=Sandra|last=McKee|title=Devils dominate Red Wings, 5-2 1995 STANLEY CUP FINALS|url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-1995-06-23-1995174119-story.html|website=The Baltimore Sun|date=June 23, 1995|access-date=July 17, 2018|archive-date=June 22, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210622181043/https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-1995-06-23-1995174119-story.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
In the [[2006 Stanley Cup playoffs]], during the opening-round series between the Red Wings and the [[Edmonton Oilers]], an Edmonton radio host suggested throwing Alberta Beef on the ice before the game. Oilers fans continued throwing steaks, even at away games, resulting in several arrests at the away cities.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.newsobserver.com/796/story/448204.html|title=Beef chucking ends|access-date=October 1, 2007|last=Brevorka|first=Jennifer|date=June 8, 2006|work=[[The News & Observer]] |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070927003440/http://www.newsobserver.com/796/story/448204.html <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date =September 27, 2007}}</ref>▼
▲[[Nashville Predators]] fans throw [[catfish]] onto their home ice. 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.<ref>{{cite web|first=Teresa M.|last=Walker|title=Fish Tale From Nashville: How The Catfish Toss Came To Be A Predators thing|url=https://www.courant.com/sports/hockey/hc-stanley-cup-catfish-0603-20170602-story.html|website=Hartford Courant|agency=Associated Press|date=June 2, 2017|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170608115241/https://www.courant.com/sports/hockey/hc-stanley-cup-catfish-0603-20170602-story.html|archivedate=June 8, 2017|access-date=January 23, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|first=Brad|last=Schmitt|title=Predators: Why do Preds fans throw catfish during NHL Playoffs?|url=https://www.tennessean.com/story/sports/nhl/predators/2018/04/12/nashville-predators-why-do-fans-throw-catfish-nhl-stanley-cup-playoffs-bridgestone-arena/508025002/|website=The Tennessean|date=April 12, 2018|access-date=January 23, 2020|archive-date=March 7, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240307022304/https://www.tennessean.com/story/sports/nhl/predators/2018/04/12/nashville-predators-why-do-fans-throw-catfish-nhl-stanley-cup-playoffs-bridgestone-arena/508025002/|url-status=live}}</ref>
▲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. Oilers fans continued throwing steaks, even at away games, resulting in several arrests at the away cities.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.newsobserver.com/796/story/448204.html|title=Beef chucking ends|access-date=October 1, 2007|last=Brevorka|first=Jennifer|date=June 8, 2006|work=[[The News & Observer]] |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070927003440/http://www.newsobserver.com/796/story/448204.html <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date =September 27, 2007}}</ref>
During Game 4 of the 2007 Stanley Cup Western Conference Semifinals between the Detroit Red Wings and the [[San Jose Sharks]], a Sharks fan threw a 3-foot [[leopard shark]] onto the ice at the [[SAP Center|HP Pavilion at San Jose]] after the Sharks scored their first goal with 2 minutes left in the first period.<ref>{{cite web|first=David|last=Albee|title=Far-flung: The strange story of a man, a plan, the NHL playoffs and a dead fish|url=http://www.marinij.com/ci_7129022?source=most_viewed|website=Marin Independent Journal|date=October 9, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071011084131/http://www.marinij.com/ci_7129022?source=most_viewed|archive-date=October 11, 2007|access-date=February 25, 2019}}</ref>
In Game 1 of the 2010 Western Conference Quarterfinals between the Detroit Red Wings and the [[Phoenix Coyotes]], a rubber snake was thrown onto the ice after a goal by the Coyotes' [[Keith Yandle]].<ref>{{cite web|first=Greg|last=Wyshynski|title=Great moments in slithery: Fans throw snakes on Coyotes ice|url=https://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nhl-puck-daddy/great-moments-slithery-fans-throw-snakes-coyotes-ice--nhl.html|website=Yahoo! Sports|date=April 15, 2010|access-date=March 14, 2013|archive-date=February 26, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190226111129/https://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nhl-puck-daddy/great-moments-slithery-fans-throw-snakes-coyotes-ice--nhl.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
In Game 2 of the 2010 Western Conference Semifinals between the Detroit Red Wings and San Jose Sharks, a small shark was tossed onto the ice with an octopus inside its mouth.<ref>{{cite web|first=Greg|last=Wyshynski|title=Inside story of how shark with octopus hit the ice in San Jose|url=https://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nhl-puck-daddy/inside-story-shark-octopus-hit-ice-san-jose--nhl.html|website=Yahoo! Sports|date=May 10, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190226045841/https://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nhl-puck-daddy/inside-story-shark-octopus-hit-ice-san-jose--nhl.html|archive-date=February 26, 2019|access-date=January 23, 2020}}</ref>
==See also==
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