With the Stanley Cup playoffs (go Buffalo) coming up, I have a question. I know that if you score three goals in a single game it is referred to as a hat trick. But what is the origin of this term? Why doesn’t it cross over to other sports such as scoring three touchdowns in a football game?
Sandra
Originally, a hat trick was three consecutive goals.
When a player did this, fans celebrated by throwing their hats onto the ice. I assume this was at first a spontaneous celebration, but eventually became a tradition.
The term didn’t migrate to most other sports because either you didn’t score goals (baseball, football) or because it wasn’t any big deal to score three of them, even in a row (basketball). I do think it might be used in soccer, though.
You’re quite right RealityChuck, it is used in FOOTBALL (soccer to the uneducated) and also a whole host of other sports, including cricket, rugby, and hockey (not ice). Correct me if I’m wrong, but I don’t think these sports are very big in North America (compared to Baseball, American Football etc.) so maybe that’s why the term isn’t as common there.
Haven’t got a clue what it means, though.
I recall that British and American airmen refered to three downed enemys in one day as a hat trick.
Nothing to do with anything, but in bowling it’s called “turkey”. Dunno why. I’d start a new thread, but I just asked a bowling alley question this week and I don’t want people to think I’m obsessed.