# Hockey - hat tricks **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [May 18, 2013, 7:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hockey-hat-tricks/658663 "2013-05-18T07:19:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![crypto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b3f665/32.png) [@crypto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crypto)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2013, 7:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hockey-hat-tricks/658663/1 "2013-05-18T07:19:27Z")
What happens to all of those hats that get tossed on the ice? Do they get bagged automatically for trash, or can a person who tossed their hat go somewhere to get their hat? Or, does the player earning the hat trick get all of the hats delivered to him in the locker room? (I mention this option only for completeness, but I can’t imagine it would be the answer… I wouldn’t want all those hats, most of them probably needing to be burne immediately). Once in a while, I’ll see a very nice, brand new hat being tossed on the ice, and if I was the owner, I’d sure like to get the thing back, especially if they are going to be tossed anyway. But I imagine trying to permit people to retrieve their hats could be a pain inthe ass too, since someone might just want to grab a nice, free hat on their way home. I imagine most folks wouldn’t have proof of hat ownership, unless they had a picture of themselves with their smartphone. Maybe that’s not as hard as first thought. Anyway, any ideas on the real answer? ---
**Author:** ![ZenBeam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/3ab097/32.png) [@ZenBeam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZenBeam)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2013, 12:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hockey-hat-tricks/658663/2 "2013-05-18T12:05:45Z")
Apparently it varies: [What happens to hats thrown for hat tricks?](http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/blog/puck_daddy/post/Hockey-mystery-What-happens-to-hats-thrown-for-?urn=nhl,167824) Some give them to the player, some throw them out, some donate them, some display them in a large transparent bin. Also, a [couple](http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20061113122338AA6pXq9) of [people](http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20090521190347AAdrlRu) at Yahoo Answers report that at their arena, they’re put in a bin where you can try to get your hat back. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2013, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hockey-hat-tricks/658663/3 "2013-05-18T14:27:04Z")
> [@ZenBeam](#): > > Also, a [couple](http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20061113122338AA6pXq9) of [people](http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20090521190347AAdrlRu) at Yahoo Answers report that at their arena, they’re put in a bin where you can try to get your hat back. Or “upgrade” to a better one. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2013, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hockey-hat-tricks/658663/4 "2013-05-18T16:37:04Z")
The Penguins now give them to the Boy Scouts – a local troop started a program to clean them up and donate them to charity. Basically, if it’s a hat you want back, don’t throw it. Toss an old one, or bring a cheap one, just in case. ---
**Author:** ![romansperson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/romansperson/32/17100_2.png) [@romansperson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/romansperson)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2013, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hockey-hat-tricks/658663/5 "2013-05-18T16:44:44Z")
The Hurricanes donate them to local hospitals (they undergo some sort of sanitizing process first). > **[NHL Videos and Highlights](https://www.nhl.com/hurricanes/video)** > > The Official video page of the National Hockey League with the latest highlights, recaps, and interviews. ---
**Author:** ![crypto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b3f665/32.png) [@crypto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crypto)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2013, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hockey-hat-tricks/658663/6 "2013-05-18T20:46:26Z")
Thanks for the replies, all. I kind of like the idea of the hats going to the player first, after all that’s who they were meant for. But I’m guessing most of the hats would not be worthy of just putting it on another persons head. That IS pretty unsanitary.