Ann 2NHL Traditions & Superstitions Part III: Goalie Superstitions
June 13th 2008 02:24
In hockey, goaltenders are usually the most eccentric members of their team. They all have their “bubble” that no one can penetrate or understand except other goalies. It should come as no surprise that they are the ones with the weirdest pre-game rituals and superstitions. Here's a list of the most notable goalies in that category. The list goes from relatively normal to downright weird.
Marc-André Fleury (Pittsburgh Penguins)
The Penguins goaltender took the habit to run to the ice before games during the 2008 playoffs. He consequently fell flat on his face in the first game of the Stanley Cup finals when his skates hit the edge of the Joe Louis Arena's entrance to the ice, almost causing a Penguins pile-up in the process.
His teammate Maxime Talbot also gave him another ritual as the grinder punched the netminder before every game to get him to relax. The punches grew more numerous as the playoffs advanced to the point of almost looking like a one-sided boxing match. Fleury has been quoted as saying that it was “getting a little ridiculous.”
Martin Biron (Philadelphia Flyers)
Biron has been wearing the same skates for twelve years. Since they aren't as solid around the ankles as modern skates, the netminder had roll several rolls of scotch tape around his ankles before games.
Pelle Lindbergh (Philadelphia Flyers)
The goaltender would wear the same t-shirt (from a Swedish company) in every game, getting someone to sew it up when it ripped apart. He also wouldn't drink anything but Pripps – a Swedish beverage – with two ice cubes in it. Perhaps he was a little homesick.
Patrick Roy (Montreal Canadiens – Colorado Avalanche)
The legendary netminder would regularly talk to his posts during game. When asked why, he answered, “They are my friends.” Also, during the pre-game warm-up, he would skate to blue-line, look at his net, and envision it shrinking. He also never stepped on the blue or red line.
Marc-André Fleury (Pittsburgh Penguins)
The Penguins goaltender took the habit to run to the ice before games during the 2008 playoffs. He consequently fell flat on his face in the first game of the Stanley Cup finals when his skates hit the edge of the Joe Louis Arena's entrance to the ice, almost causing a Penguins pile-up in the process.
Fleury's trip
His teammate Maxime Talbot also gave him another ritual as the grinder punched the netminder before every game to get him to relax. The punches grew more numerous as the playoffs advanced to the point of almost looking like a one-sided boxing match. Fleury has been quoted as saying that it was “getting a little ridiculous.”
Martin Biron (Philadelphia Flyers)
Biron has been wearing the same skates for twelve years. Since they aren't as solid around the ankles as modern skates, the netminder had roll several rolls of scotch tape around his ankles before games.
Pelle Lindbergh (Philadelphia Flyers)
The goaltender would wear the same t-shirt (from a Swedish company) in every game, getting someone to sew it up when it ripped apart. He also wouldn't drink anything but Pripps – a Swedish beverage – with two ice cubes in it. Perhaps he was a little homesick.
Patrick Roy (Montreal Canadiens – Colorado Avalanche)
The legendary netminder would regularly talk to his posts during game. When asked why, he answered, “They are my friends.” Also, during the pre-game warm-up, he would skate to blue-line, look at his net, and envision it shrinking. He also never stepped on the blue or red line.
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