# Red wings and squid?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/red-wings-and-squid/112850>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [June 7, 2002, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/red-wings-and-squid/112850 "2002-06-07T15:34:28Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![satanslawyer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@satanslawyer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/satanslawyer)\
**Post date:** [June 7, 2002, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/red-wings-and-squid/112850/1 "2002-06-07T15:34:28Z")

</div>

Can someone explain to me why exactly Detroit fans throw squid on the ice during playoff goals?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![jk1245](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/49beb7/32.png) [@jk1245](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jk1245)\
**Post date:** [June 7, 2002, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/red-wings-and-squid/112850/2 "2002-06-07T15:39:00Z")

</div>

Actually, they are octopi and they represent the eight games you (used to) have to win to win the Stanley Cup. Now with more teams, there are more playoff games so you need more than 8 wins. They apparently can’t find any 24 (or whatever) leg octopi.

If the NHL keeps expanding, they will have to start throwing centipedes on the ice.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![zut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zut/32/2875_2.png) [@zut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zut)\
**Post date:** [June 7, 2002, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/red-wings-and-squid/112850/3 "2002-06-07T16:42:39Z")

</div>

A little more of the [history](http://detnews.com/2002/sports/0204/27/sports-475959.htm) of octopus throwing. [Another article](http://detnews.com/2002/wings/0206/03/b02-504727.htm). Both support what **jk1245** said, only with some details thrown in.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Why\_A\_Duck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/13edae/32.png) [@Why\_A\_Duck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Why_A_Duck)\
**Post date:** [June 7, 2002, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/red-wings-and-squid/112850/4 "2002-06-07T16:47:28Z")

</div>

Back at my old alma mater (UNH - Go Wildcats), a fish was always thrown on the ice after the first UNH goal during home games. If we were being shut-out, the third-period cheer “The fish is starting to stink” could be heard.

Must be something about hockey and seafood. I blame the Canadians (in general, not les Habitants in specific).