Hockey season is just around the corner and players of all levels will soon be gearing up for their fall/winter leagues.
Spending an extended period of time away from the rink will make anyone miss it, and consequently appreciate some of the smaller aspects of the game. One of those is its unique superstitions, and wow, are there ever some weird ones out there. With that in mind, here are four of them that most hockey players can relate to in one way or another.
1 ) Left piece of a equipment before right, vice versa
Whether it's shin-pads, skates, or elbow pads, many skaters choose to put their gear on in the exact same order ahead of each game. Does it physically make a difference at the end of the day? No- but it can help them get into the right state of mind. It's kind of weird once you really think about it.
2 ) A kiss on the blade
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This one isn't restricted to hockey, as players from other sports tend to do the same with their offensive weapon as well (mainly baseball players). What athletes don't take into account is how ridiculous and unsanitary the actual process is. We get that a smooch can be seen as good luck, but has anyone ever taken into account how much bacteria is probably on that thing? Your tape goes thorough a huge manufacturing process and is then embedded in your smelly hockey bag over the course of a season. Not to be the bearer of bad news or anything, but you might want to consider not locking lips with your twig next time.
3 ) Going BarDown in warmup
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Some players can't fully get into a groove until they hear that 'ting' in warmup. There are few worse feelings than when you hear that buzzer go off to signal the end of warmies, and you haven't gotten that last perfect shot in. For some skaters, it can throw them off of their game entirely.
4 ) Goalie post-to-post taps
You can't make a list like this without giving some love to the goaltenders. This one might be the most popular of the bunch, as a tendy can usually be seen slashing his post to start a period or prior to a penalty shot. There are other odd goalie superstitions out there, but this is one that stands out amongst the rest.
Let us know what you think the weirdest one in hockey is @BarDown!
