from Trevor Lenzmeier and Marisa Ingemi of the Seattle Times,

On the ice, hockey players and fans are quite superstitious. Player rituals take many forms; some NHLers get dressed in the exact same order before every game (i.e., left skate then right skate, left glove then right glove), while other skaters refuse to leave the rink after warm-ups until every other skater has left the ice.

That’s not to mention the charms and curses that are commonplace come playoff time — in Detroit, fans throw a dead octopus onto the ice, while in Nashville, they chuck catfish. Bushy, unkempt playoff beards bring postseason success, while touching the Clarence Campbell or Prince of Wales trophies after winning a conference championship spells doom. As early as peewee hockey, preteen players are warned not to touch the Cup, lest they be cursed not to lift it themselves.

Did we mention that hand-to-hand combat is a semiregular part of the sport?...

Do’s and Don’ts
You snagged the hottest ticket in town and are headed to Climate Pledge Arena to see our Seattle Kraken face off with an NHL rival. Here’s what to expect at the rink.

Don’t wear shorts unless you like the cold. Layers are your friend.

Do wear a jersey (known as a “sweater”). Hats are acceptable, as are actual sweaters.

Don’t be surprised if our Kraken players and their opponents push each other in front of the net, regularly, after the whistle calls play dead. But it’s a fine line between shoving and trash talk and taking a minor penalty.

Don’t expect to get your hat back.

Do take bathroom breaks and/or get snacks during intermission. It’ll be a little while.

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