Five Random Hockey Facts
Hockey season is here, and fans are ramped up and ready for action. Slap shots, hat tricks and lots of crowd enthusiasm are all things we love and expect from the game, but what don’t we know? Get schooled in a few random hockey facts as you dive into hockey season 2019.
1. No Cup Awarded
No cup?! Luckily, there have only been a handful of times in the history of professional Hockey where Lord Stanley didn’t go home with a dominant team, and for drastically different reasons.
In 1919, the Spanish flu H1N1 pandemic swept across the world. Midway through the finals between the Seattle Metropolitans and Montreal Canadiens, the majority of the Canadiens fell ill, forcing officials to cancel the championship. In contrast, the 2005 lockout meant that no professional hockey was played that season, much less a championship series. Due to a salary structure dispute, pro hockey in the U.S. ceased operation from September 2004 to July 2005
2. Frozen Pucks
Every sport has its tricks, especially hockey. There’s a secret to ensuring that hockey pucks move effectively across the icy arena: a deep freeze.
Hockey pucks are frozen for game use so they glide easily on the ice. They naturally warm up during gameplay due to friction, so each has to be swapped out for maximum efficiency. As a result, an average of 12 pucks are used in each game.
3. Dung Pucks
Dung what? Every sport goes through evolutions, from gameplay rules to proper equipment.
One unsavory bit of hockey trivia? Pucks weren’t always made from heavy duty rubber. Instead, earlier incarnations of hockey pucks were frozen cow patties. Needless to say, we’re pretty glad this one got a makeover.
4. Fan or Player?
If you ever wanted a chance to play for your favorite team, there may be hope. Of course, experience in the sport is required.
In true emergencies, fans can fill in as goalies. If both goaltenders for a team are injured, teams turn to their emergency list of nonprofessional players, such as those who played hockey in college. In 2018, a 36-year-old accountant with a college hockey background filled in as goalie for Chicago, leading to a victory over Winnipeg.
5. A Real Penguin
Before the man-inside-the-costume days, Pittsburgh actually had a live mascot.
During the team’s first season. Slapshot Pete represented the team. The Ecuadorian penguin rode the Zamboni between periods and generally kept crowd enthusiasm heightened. The live mascot format didn’t last long, however. The team’s penguin pal unfortunately passed due to complications from pneumonia during the second season.
Watch the Biggest Games at Zone 28
Zone 28 is your destination for professional hockey. Join us at the End Zone Sports Bar for a bite and a few brews as you watch the action on our 14 big screen TVs. Or, for a more active experience, head over to our all-new Beer Park. With games like cornhole and giant Jenga, as well as full-service bar and 15’ big screen, it’s easy to get pumped. Make Zone 28 your go-to stop for hockey action. We’ll see you in the Zone.
