Rat trick
Encyclopedia
The rat trick was a gimmick popularized by fans of the Florida Panthers
of the National Hockey League
(NHL) during their 1995–96 season
and trip to the 1996 Stanley Cup Finals
. The term, a play on hat trick
, was coined by Panthers goaltender John Vanbiesbrouck
after teammate Scott Mellanby
killed a rat in the locker room prior to the team's home opener with his stick, then scored two goals with the same stick. Fans immediately picked up on the idea and began throwing plastic rats on the ice to celebrate goals. By the time the Panthers reached the 1996 playoffs, thousands of rats hit the ice after every Panthers goal, resulting in an off-season rule change by the NHL that allowed for referees to penalize the home team if fans disrupt the game by throwing objects onto the ice.
. As the team prepared for its home opener against the Calgary Flames
on October 8, 1995, a rat entered the dressing room, startling several players. Scott Mellanby
reacted by shooting the rat across the locker room with his stick, killing it. He then went out and scored two goals in a 4–3 victory over the Flames, leading the Panthers to their first win of the season. Vanbiesbrouck described the incident to reporters after the game, stating that while Mellanby failed to score a hat trick
(three goals in one game), he did manage a "rat trick".
During the next game, a fan threw a plastic rat onto the ice following a Panthers goal. The following game, a few more rats hit the ice. Eventually, over 100 rats were tossed to the ice following Panthers goals, as the Panthers emerged as the top team in the league by mid November. Florida finished the regular season in third place in the Atlantic Division
, and qualified for the playoffs for the first time.
Additionally, this Panthers' playoff appearance coincided with the Year of the Rat
in the Chinese zodiac
. This led fans to believe that the Panthers would have great luck in the playoffs.
in five games, then the Philadelphia Flyers
in six to reach the Eastern Conference
finals. They then defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins
in seven games to win the Prince of Wales Trophy
as the rat tossing craze reached its peak as 3,000 rats rained onto the ice following goals. While officially frowning on the practice of throwing rats, the team nonetheless brought on Orkin
as a sponsor and employed a crew of 40 rink attendants dressed up as exterminators to clear the ice after each Florida goal.
The "year of the rat" in south Florida reached a fever pitch as the Panthers made their only trip to the Stanley Cup
finals. Area supermarkets sold "rat cakes"—cupcakes with rats drawn in frosting—while baseball's Florida Marlins
showed the Panthers' game seven victory against the Penguins, in Pittsburgh, on the jumbotron between innings and had the Panthers' arena announcer on hand to announce when the team scored a goal. The Panthers, who had sold out only 15 of 42 home games during the regular season, sold out their first two playoff games against Philadelphia and Pittsburgh in seven minutes.
In the first game of the finals, a 3–1 Colorado victory, fans of the Colorado Avalanche
responded by throwing rat traps onto the ice in Denver following Avalanche goals. The Avalanche won the second game handily, 8–1, to lead the series 2–0 as the teams returned to Miami for games three and four. During the first period of game three, Colorado goaltender Patrick Roy
famously refused to duck under his net, as other goalies had, to hide from the barrage of rats after he surrendered a goal in the first period. During the intermission, Roy announced to his team that there would be "no more rats". True to his word, Roy did not surrender another goal as the Avalanche won game three, then shut out the Panthers 1–0 in game four to sweep the series and win Colorado's first Stanley Cup.
The Panthers held a "Year of the Rat" alumni reunion in 2007 to celebrate the 1996 team and raise money for the Florida Panthers Foundation. As part of the event, the Panthers sold plastic rats for fans to toss onto the ice during the exhibition game, which saw the participation of at least 19 members of the 1996 team. Mellanby, who retired in 2007, was always remembered for spawning the rat trick. "It became the motto of our team that season. When I played in the all-star game, a kid came up to me and said, 'You're the rat guy.' He didn't even know my name; he just knew I killed the rat."
Florida Panthers
The Florida Panthers are a professional ice hockey team based in Sunrise, Florida, in the Miami metropolitan area. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . They play their games at the BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise and are the...
of the National Hockey League
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
(NHL) during their 1995–96 season
1995–96 Florida Panthers season
The 1995–96 Florida Panthers season was their most successful season ever. In only their third season in the National Hockey League, the Panthers qualified for the playoffs, and won three playoff series to become Eastern Conference champions...
and trip to the 1996 Stanley Cup Finals
1996 Stanley Cup Finals
The 1996 Stanley Cup Final NHL championship series was contested by two teams that had not existed three seasons before, the Colorado Avalanche and the Florida Panthers. The Avalanche won the Cup in a four game sweep to win the franchise's first Stanley Cup, in their first season in Denver since...
. The term, a play on hat trick
Hat Trick
Hat trick, hat-trick or hattrick may refer to:* hat-trick — in various sports, achieving three goals, wickets, etc. in a single match* Hattrick — online football management game** Hattrick Limited — producers of this game...
, was coined by Panthers goaltender John Vanbiesbrouck
John Vanbiesbrouck
John "Beezer" Vanbiesbrouck is a retired professional ice hockey goaltender, who was inducted into the United States Hockey Hall of Fame in 2007. He played in the National Hockey League for the New York Rangers, Florida Panthers, Philadelphia Flyers, New York Islanders, and New Jersey Devils...
after teammate Scott Mellanby
Scott Mellanby
Scott Edgar Mellanby is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey player. He primarily played right wing throughout his career, on occasion shifting over to the left side. He is the son of former Hockey Night in Canada producer Ralph Mellanby. He is currently the assistant coach of the St...
killed a rat in the locker room prior to the team's home opener with his stick, then scored two goals with the same stick. Fans immediately picked up on the idea and began throwing plastic rats on the ice to celebrate goals. By the time the Panthers reached the 1996 playoffs, thousands of rats hit the ice after every Panthers goal, resulting in an off-season rule change by the NHL that allowed for referees to penalize the home team if fans disrupt the game by throwing objects onto the ice.
Origin
The 1995–96 season was the third in the NHL for the Panthers, who had been awarded as an expansion franchise in 1992. The team was composed of journeymen veterans and rookies and led by all-star goaltender John VanbiesbrouckJohn Vanbiesbrouck
John "Beezer" Vanbiesbrouck is a retired professional ice hockey goaltender, who was inducted into the United States Hockey Hall of Fame in 2007. He played in the National Hockey League for the New York Rangers, Florida Panthers, Philadelphia Flyers, New York Islanders, and New Jersey Devils...
. As the team prepared for its home opener against the Calgary Flames
Calgary Flames
The Calgary Flames are a professional ice hockey team based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is the third major-professional ice hockey team to represent the city of Calgary, following the...
on October 8, 1995, a rat entered the dressing room, startling several players. Scott Mellanby
Scott Mellanby
Scott Edgar Mellanby is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey player. He primarily played right wing throughout his career, on occasion shifting over to the left side. He is the son of former Hockey Night in Canada producer Ralph Mellanby. He is currently the assistant coach of the St...
reacted by shooting the rat across the locker room with his stick, killing it. He then went out and scored two goals in a 4–3 victory over the Flames, leading the Panthers to their first win of the season. Vanbiesbrouck described the incident to reporters after the game, stating that while Mellanby failed to score a hat trick
Hat Trick
Hat trick, hat-trick or hattrick may refer to:* hat-trick — in various sports, achieving three goals, wickets, etc. in a single match* Hattrick — online football management game** Hattrick Limited — producers of this game...
(three goals in one game), he did manage a "rat trick".
During the next game, a fan threw a plastic rat onto the ice following a Panthers goal. The following game, a few more rats hit the ice. Eventually, over 100 rats were tossed to the ice following Panthers goals, as the Panthers emerged as the top team in the league by mid November. Florida finished the regular season in third place in the Atlantic Division
Atlantic Division (NHL)
The NHL's Atlantic Division was formed in 1993 as part of the Eastern Conference in a league realignment, the predecessor of which was the Patrick Division. It is the only division in the NHL where all of its current members have won the Stanley Cup at least twice, though only three teams have won...
, and qualified for the playoffs for the first time.
Additionally, this Panthers' playoff appearance coincided with the Year of the Rat
Rat (zodiac)
The Rat is one of the 12-year cycle of animals which appear in the Chinese zodiac related to the Chinese calendar, the Year of the Rat is associated with the earthly branch symbol 子...
in the Chinese zodiac
Chinese zodiac
The Shēngxiào , better known in English as the Chinese Zodiac, is a scheme that relates each year to an animal and its reputed attributes, according to a 12-year mathematical cycle...
. This led fans to believe that the Panthers would have great luck in the playoffs.
1996 Stanley Cup playoffs
The Panthers defeated the Boston BruinsBoston Bruins
The Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The team has been in existence since 1924, and is the league's third-oldest team and its oldest in the...
in five games, then the Philadelphia Flyers
Philadelphia Flyers
The Philadelphia Flyers are a professional ice hockey team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
in six to reach the Eastern Conference
Eastern Conference (NHL)
The Eastern Conference is one of two conferences in the National Hockey League used to divide teams. Its counterpart is the Western Conference....
finals. They then defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins
Pittsburgh Penguins
The Pittsburgh Penguins are a professional ice hockey team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The franchise was founded in 1967 as one of the first expansion teams during the league's original...
in seven games to win the Prince of Wales Trophy
Prince of Wales Trophy
The Prince of Wales Trophy, also known as the Wales Trophy, is an award presented by the National Hockey League to the Eastern Conference playoff champions, prior to the final series of games for the Stanley Cup...
as the rat tossing craze reached its peak as 3,000 rats rained onto the ice following goals. While officially frowning on the practice of throwing rats, the team nonetheless brought on Orkin
Orkin
Orkin is a pest-control company that is a wholly owned subsidiary of Rollins Inc.-The Orkin Uniform:The most recognized Orkin uniform consists of a white collared shirt with the Orkin logo and red epaulets and pressed khaki pants. The uniform varies depending on an employee’s job function for...
as a sponsor and employed a crew of 40 rink attendants dressed up as exterminators to clear the ice after each Florida goal.
The "year of the rat" in south Florida reached a fever pitch as the Panthers made their only trip to the Stanley Cup
Stanley Cup
The Stanley Cup is an ice hockey club trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League playoffs champion after the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Finals. It has been referred to as The Cup, Lord Stanley's Cup, The Holy Grail, or facetiously as Lord Stanley's Mug...
finals. Area supermarkets sold "rat cakes"—cupcakes with rats drawn in frosting—while baseball's Florida Marlins
Florida Marlins
The Miami Marlins are a professional baseball team based in Miami, Florida, United States. Established in 1993 as an expansion franchise called the Florida Marlins, the Marlins are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Marlins played their home games at...
showed the Panthers' game seven victory against the Penguins, in Pittsburgh, on the jumbotron between innings and had the Panthers' arena announcer on hand to announce when the team scored a goal. The Panthers, who had sold out only 15 of 42 home games during the regular season, sold out their first two playoff games against Philadelphia and Pittsburgh in seven minutes.
In the first game of the finals, a 3–1 Colorado victory, fans of the Colorado Avalanche
Colorado Avalanche
The Colorado Avalanche are a professional ice hockey team based in Denver, Colorado, United States. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The Avalanche have won the Stanley Cup twice, in 1995–96 and 2000–01. The franchise...
responded by throwing rat traps onto the ice in Denver following Avalanche goals. The Avalanche won the second game handily, 8–1, to lead the series 2–0 as the teams returned to Miami for games three and four. During the first period of game three, Colorado goaltender Patrick Roy
Patrick Roy
Patrick Edward Armand Roy is a former Canadian ice hockey goaltender. Nicknamed "Saint Patrick," Roy split his professional career between the Montreal Canadiens, whom he played with for 10 years, and the Colorado Avalanche, whom he played with for 8 years, both of the National Hockey League...
famously refused to duck under his net, as other goalies had, to hide from the barrage of rats after he surrendered a goal in the first period. During the intermission, Roy announced to his team that there would be "no more rats". True to his word, Roy did not surrender another goal as the Avalanche won game three, then shut out the Panthers 1–0 in game four to sweep the series and win Colorado's first Stanley Cup.
Legacy
Directly as a result of Florida's rat trick craze, the league amended its rules prior to the 1996–97 season to prevent a recurrence of this phenomenon and the delays to the game that accompanied it. The league declared that if fans threw debris onto the ice, the referee can have the public address announcer warn the fans to stop. After a warning, the referee can then issue a delay of game penalty to the home team. The league, however, created a special exemption for articles "thrown onto the ice following a special occasion", specifically excluding the traditional tossing of hats onto the ice following a hat trick goal from being subject to the penalty.The Panthers held a "Year of the Rat" alumni reunion in 2007 to celebrate the 1996 team and raise money for the Florida Panthers Foundation. As part of the event, the Panthers sold plastic rats for fans to toss onto the ice during the exhibition game, which saw the participation of at least 19 members of the 1996 team. Mellanby, who retired in 2007, was always remembered for spawning the rat trick. "It became the motto of our team that season. When I played in the all-star game, a kid came up to me and said, 'You're the rat guy.' He didn't even know my name; he just knew I killed the rat."