To simply put it, some hockey players are just more superstitious than others. If things don’t go exactly according to plan, it can completely throw he/she off his/her game and the consequences on the ice could be ugly. With that in mind, here are four that all us hockey players can relate to, whether it's them or a teammate who does this prior to games…
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
This one isn't restricted to hockey, as players from other sports tend to do the same with their offensive weapon (mainly baseball players). What athletes don't take into account is how ridiculous and unsanitary the tradition is. We get that a smooch can be seen as good luck, but it's gross! Your tape goes through a huge manufacturing process and is then embedded in your smelly hockey bag over the course of a season. You might want to reconsider locking lips with your twig next time, especially when hockey returns to action.
Eliot J. Schechter/NHLI via Getty Images
3 ) Going BarDown in warmup
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.
On another note- this one’s our favourite!
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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 from the rest.
Let us know what you think the weirdest one in hockey is @BarDown!
