Hockey Friday: The Hat Trick

A hat trick in hockey, if you don't know, is when the same player scores three goals in one game. After a player scores his third goal, the fans will toss their hats onto the ice to celebrate.

At some point, most fans ask: Why? How?

Wikipedia says: in 1946, a visiting Chicago Blackhawks player went into a Toronto hat store, but didn't have enough money to buy the hat he wanted. The owner said that if he scored three goals, he'd give him the hat. The player scored four goals and got his hat. Thus, a tradition was born.

I've only ever seen a handful of hat tricks; they're pretty rare. I've certainly never seen anyone throw a fedora onto the ice (though I like the idea). Maybe we'll get one in the Winter Classic? A girl can hope.