The ‘hat trick’ in hockey, a remarkable accomplishment that stands as a testament to skill and precision on the ice, remains a celebrated tradition and a symbol of individual excellence in the sport.
What is a hat trick in hockey?
A “hat trick” is a term used to describe a player scoring 3 goals in a single game. If a player scores 3 goals in 1 game it is known as a “hat trick”.
In 2023, only 72 skaters were able to score a hat trick in the NHL. Read below to see just how rare that is.
How Rare Is a Hat Trick in Hockey?
Only 72 skaters were able to record a hat trick in the 2022~23 NHL season – this represents just ~7% of all skaters in the NHL.
So, hat tricks are rare in hockey.
But this is from the player’s perspective.
Unfortunately, from the fan’s perspective, hat tricks are even rarer.
The “hat tricks per game average” in 2023 was just ~3.7%. Meaning, as a fan, you only had a ~3.7% chance of seeing a hat trick in any given game.
The good news is that hat tricks appear to be on the rise. Since the mid-2010s, the hat tricks per game average in the NHL has been increasing.
The 2021 NHL season saw the highest hat tricks per game average since 1996.
How Rare Is A Double Hat Trick In Hockey?
There is an even rarer form of a hat trick known as a “double hat trick,” which is when a player scores six goals in one game.
There have only been seven, double hat tricks ever scored in the NHL. They were done by the following players:
- Newsy Lalonde (1919)
- Joe Malone (1919)
- Cy Denneny (1920)
- Corb Denneny (1920)
- Syd Howe (1943)
- Red Berenson (1968)
- Darryl Sittler (1975)
The last person to ever score a double hat trick in the NHL was Darryl Sittler in 1975.
Who Has The Most Hat Tricks in The NHL?
Wayne Gretzky has the most hat tricks in NHL history, with a total of 50 hat tricks.
Most hat tricks in the NHL:
| Player Name | Hat Tricks |
|---|---|
| Wayne Gretzky | 50 |
| Mario Lemieux | 40 |
| Mike Bossy | 39 |
| Brett Hull | 33 |
| Phil Esposito | 32 |
One interesting stat is that Alex Ovechkin currently sits at 6th in all-time hattricks, with 30 career hat tricks. If he can just get three more, he will crack the top 5 list.
Why Is It Called a Hat Trick?
The sports phrase “hat trick” has its origins in cricket and later became widely used in various sports, especially in hockey and soccer.
The term “hat trick” originally referred to a bowler taking three wickets in three consecutive deliveries in cricket – analogous to three consecutive strikeouts by a pitcher in baseball.
The exact origin of the phrase is somewhat disputed, but it is believed to have evolved from a tradition in the 19th century when English cricketers who achieved this feat were often rewarded with a new hat.
The term “hat trick” was used to describe this accomplishment, as the cricketer would receive a new hat as a symbol of their success.
Over time, the term “hat trick” was adopted by other sports to describe a player scoring three goals or points in a single game.
What Is The Rat Trick in Florida?
The “rat trick” is a phrase associated with the Florida Panthers and can be traced back to the Panthers’ home opener on October 8, 1995.
In a twist of fate, a rat found its way into the team’s dressing room, sending shockwaves through the players.
One player, Scott Mellanby, reacted in a way that would go down in hockey lore—he dispatched the intruder with his hockey stick, propelling it across the locker room.
What followed was sheer magic on the ice, as Mellanby netted two goals, powering the Panthers to a thrilling 4-3 victory over the Calgary Flames.
As Mellanby’s remarkable performance unfolded, Panthers goaltender John Vanbiesbrouck couldn’t help but add a touch of humor to the story.
He described Mellanby’s achievement as a “rat trick” when speaking to reporters after the game, despite the fact that it wasn’t a traditional hat trick (scoring three goals in a single game).
The term “rat trick” took flight and soon became synonymous with a quirky yet endearing Panthers’ tradition.
In the next few games, fans in the arena joined the fun by tossing plastic rats onto the ice to celebrate the team’s goals. The number of rats increased with each victory, creating an unforgettable spectacle in the NHL.
By the time the Panthers reached the 1996 playoffs, thousands of plastic rats rained down onto the ice after every Panthers goal.
The tradition was so popular that it led to an off-season rule change by the NHL, allowing referees to penalize the home team if fans disrupted the game by throwing objects onto the ice.
Notably, the Panthers’ playoff appearance coincided with the “Year of the Rat” in the Chinese zodiac, fueling fans’ beliefs that the team was destined for great luck in the postseason.
This convergence of events added to the charm and uniqueness of the “rat trick” tradition.
The “rat trick” is now an enduring chapter in the history of the Florida Panthers, a quirky celebration that turned an unexpected encounter with a rat into a symbol of team spirit, tenacity, and the incredible bond between fans and their team.
Leave a Reply