Sports themselves have been known to tell the tails of many sports heroes, and the myths and rituals that are performed by these individuals. These individuals may be some of the quirkiest, yet most talented and gifted athletes in their sport. In the game of hockey, superstitions, and rituals have been a major part of the game. Many have found that these rituals be outrageous and out of control. It has been said hockey can fit the ranks for superstitions among the levels of baseball. To prove the fact, it has gone without notice that during an NHL postseason, players grow their beards out believing that it will give them good luck. This may be may be followed in other sports as well, but no other sport quite follows the rituals of the "playoff beard" like NHL players do.
The "playoff beard" in hockey is a sacred ritual that has been created through years and years of myths being told by players, that if they do not shave it will boost the chance of reaching the Holy Grail itself, the Stanley Cup. Many of these rituals tend to come out in the post season, and are noticed when something drastic is done to change or turn away from conforming to "sport ritual" as a whole. That is, whenever you win any type of trophy, you touch it and hold it above your head and celebrate. But that is not the case in the NHL. As Jim Roope says, "...winners of the Eastern and Western conferences do not touch the conference trophy for fear of jinxing the championship." This superstition itself breaks the standards of conforming to normal myths and ritual in sport, but creates hockey's own unique path of creating their own myths inside of the sport. It is now very rare to see a team touch the conference trophy after winning it due to the fact it upsets fans and entices the media to comment whenever it is. This superstition has created a mindset for not only players that they will be jinxed if they touch it, but the teams fans and media have also been placed into this mindset as well.
The unique conformity that has been created by players, fans, and media to not touch these conference trophies in hope of the Stanley Cup falling into their hands the next round, has given this ritual a sense of normality to the hockey world. Fans create uproars and lose faith when the conference trophy is touched. But maybe this myth of waiting to raise the Stanley Cup is true? Well as history has shown since the ritual has started, a team that has touched their respective conferences trophy, has never won the Stanley Cup in the following round of the post season. This only feeds the fuel to the fire, and helps builds up the mythological narrative to its strongest level to help guide them through the present and future of the sport.
The "playoff beard" in hockey is a sacred ritual that has been created through years and years of myths being told by players, that if they do not shave it will boost the chance of reaching the Holy Grail itself, the Stanley Cup. Many of these rituals tend to come out in the post season, and are noticed when something drastic is done to change or turn away from conforming to "sport ritual" as a whole. That is, whenever you win any type of trophy, you touch it and hold it above your head and celebrate. But that is not the case in the NHL. As Jim Roope says, "...winners of the Eastern and Western conferences do not touch the conference trophy for fear of jinxing the championship." This superstition itself breaks the standards of conforming to normal myths and ritual in sport, but creates hockey's own unique path of creating their own myths inside of the sport. It is now very rare to see a team touch the conference trophy after winning it due to the fact it upsets fans and entices the media to comment whenever it is. This superstition has created a mindset for not only players that they will be jinxed if they touch it, but the teams fans and media have also been placed into this mindset as well.
The unique conformity that has been created by players, fans, and media to not touch these conference trophies in hope of the Stanley Cup falling into their hands the next round, has given this ritual a sense of normality to the hockey world. Fans create uproars and lose faith when the conference trophy is touched. But maybe this myth of waiting to raise the Stanley Cup is true? Well as history has shown since the ritual has started, a team that has touched their respective conferences trophy, has never won the Stanley Cup in the following round of the post season. This only feeds the fuel to the fire, and helps builds up the mythological narrative to its strongest level to help guide them through the present and future of the sport.
I always found the growing of the playoff beard to be very interesting and fun. This ritual is a good way for not only the players, but also the fans to get involved. Being a hockey fan i've always wanted to participate in this ritual however I never get far because of the constant uncomfort of a beard. I love this ritual and it's just another small reason why I love hockey and the traditions and cultures that surround it.
ReplyDeleteThis blog post offered a great connection between myths and rituals in sports. I've played baseball my entire life and like hockey players, believe wholeheartedly in superstitions. The topics you highlighted are great examples of myths/rituals that are present in all sports, but are represented the best by the NHL.
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