HAT - like in HAT-trick

by Bla Razor on Nov 5, 2009 3:05 PM EST

There was a story today at the Pens official website that reminded me of one of my favorite little-funny-part-of-the-game things that I've thought about... what do teams do with hats thrown at the ice after a hat-trick?...

It turns out some boy has "asked a coupe of people" and got the hats in order to give them out to charity... it seems almost too easy to be done... which brought me to the idea that if there's another good idea on "what to do with the hats" it could be really considered...

For me to simply dispose of the hats is just plain stupid and sad (I don't buy into the "health and safety" crap)... there's so much emotion attached to them and they should be used for some better cause.

Seems more and more teams start to collect and showcase them inside the arenas, which is cool and can bring a smile on everyone's face thinking "yeah, was a great game that was:)"... but I'm sure there can be also other good ideas to use the hats... say have a "Original Penguins game worn and game thrown gear" museum with the occasional auction to raise money for kids hockey development...

So... what's your take?

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I actually saw a video on it too earlier today on the Pens’ web site. Give it a look (or you can edit and add it to your post too ;-) )

http://penguins.nhl.tv/team/console.jsp?catid=19&id=50619

I’m all for supporting the charities. That’s a pretty popular theme throughout hockey and think it also might give a fan a little more umph to throw that $20 hat onto the ice.

Now, when Toews scored his hat trick on hard hat night in Chicago against the Pens, I wonder what they did with all those helmets…

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by FrankD on Nov 5, 2009 3:30 PM EST reply actions

I know kept my helmet from that game. When they called off the hat trick, I don’t think I ever laughed harder, because that was amazing how many people chucked those in. I just assume they do the same promotion this year, and clean those things up. Otherwise, just send them to various charities.

I also remember, and I forget what team does this, but there is a team who collects the hats thrown in on hat tricks and puts them in a box around the entrance as a display for the fans. I forget the team, but if I dig around Uni Watch I might be able to find the full story, pretty sure it was on there.

PensBurgh penalty - Lavender - 2 Minutes for Excessive Stanley Cup Raising.

by Lavender on Nov 6, 2009 8:00 AM EST up reply actions

Flyers do that around the concourse of Wachovia Center.

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by FrankD on Nov 6, 2009 12:24 PM EST up reply actions

I read that originally it was done first in Columbus and they have the hats from ALL hat-tricks in the history of the franchise (scored on home ice of course)… yes, it’s not the longest history, but I still think it’s a good idea…

http://img20.imageshack.us/gal.php?g=cbjhats1.jpg

Actually some other NHL teams took their idea and made similar showcases…

You have to see it for yourself...

by Bla Razor on Nov 6, 2009 12:34 PM EST up reply actions

Speaking of Columbus, they may actually be the next on the Phoenix Coyotes’ path of relocation. Just read an article the other day that said the Blue Jackets are facing some serious financial issues.

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by FrankD on Nov 6, 2009 4:14 PM EST up reply actions

There ya go, that’s the team I had in mind.

PensBurgh penalty - Lavender - 2 Minutes for Excessive Stanley Cup Raising.

by Lavender on Nov 10, 2009 10:59 AM EST up reply actions

I can vaguely remember reading that Crosby took home all of the hats from his first hat trick.

by PensFan024 on Nov 5, 2009 3:38 PM EST reply actions

I like the charity thing, but I don’t know. Last season I guess the hats went to kids in Nicaragua and another central American country, Guatemala maybe. It strikes me as a little odd that these kids are hungry, don’t have proper clothes, but hey, they have hats!

by JustinM on Nov 7, 2009 2:15 PM EST reply actions

that’s why I thought that may be it’s better to find some way to sell at least some of the hats and then donate the money to address their most urgent needs…

You have to see it for yourself...

by Bla Razor on Nov 7, 2009 4:28 PM EST up reply actions