Sofia Martinez
Throwing plastic rats onto the ice is a tradition for fans of the Florida Panthers of the National Hockey League (NHL). The tradition began during the 1995-96 season when Panthers player Scott Mellanby killed a rat in the locker room with his stick and then went on to score two goals with the same stick. Goalie John Vanbiesbrouck then coined the term rat trick, a play on hat trick, and fans started throwing plastic rats onto the ice to celebrate goals and victories. The tradition has continued intermittently over the years, with the NHL attempting to discourage it by introducing penalties for throwing objects onto the ice. However, the rat-throwing tradition remains a unique and whimsical part of Florida Panthers lore.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of the tradition | Rat trick |
| Year of origin | 1995-96 |
| Team | Florida Panthers |
| League | National Hockey League (NHL) |
| Reason | A Florida player, Scott Mellanby, killed a rat in the locker room before the game and then went on to score two goals with the same stick |
| Continuation | The tradition continued through Florida's run to the '96 Cup Final |
| Ban | The NHL banned the act entirely, citing delays required to clear the ice |
| Comeback | The tradition made a comeback in 2012 when the Panthers qualified for the postseason |
| Mascot | In 2014, the franchise introduced Viktor E. Ratt as its mascot |
| Recent | The tradition was seen again in 2023 and 2024 |
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What You'll Learn
- The tradition began in 1995 when a player killed a rat with his stick and then scored two goals with the same stick
- The term rat trick was coined by Panthers goalie John Vanbiesbrouck
- The NHL banned the act in 1996, but it made a comeback in 2012
- The Florida Panthers sold plastic rats for fans to throw during games
- The Year of the Rat in 1996 saw supermarkets sell rat cakes and baseball teams get involved
The tradition began in 1995 when a player killed a rat with his stick and then scored two goals with the same stick
The tradition of throwing plastic rats onto the ice began in 1995 when a Florida Panthers player, Scott Mellanby, killed a rat with his stick and then scored two goals with the same stick. This incident, which occurred before the team's home opener, became known as the "rat trick", a play on the term "hat trick", coined by Panthers goaltender John Vanbiesbrouck.
The "rat trick" became a popular tradition among Panthers fans, who began throwing plastic rats onto the ice after every goal or win. The team's success in the 1995-96 season further fueled this trend, with thousands of rats being tossed onto the ice during the 1996 playoffs. The "Year of the Rat" in South Florida added to the frenzy, with supermarkets selling "rat cakes" and local baseball teams showing their support.
The act of throwing plastic rats onto the ice became such a prominent tradition that the Panthers partnered with Orkin, a pest control company, to have their crew dressed as exterminators clear the ice after each goal. However, the NHL eventually banned the practice, citing delays in game play caused by the need to clear the ice. Despite the ban, the tradition has persisted, with fans occasionally throwing plastic rats during significant victories or playoff runs.
The "rat trick" tradition has become an iconic part of the Florida Panthers' history and has been revived during their successful runs in recent years. The plastic rats have become a symbol of the team's spirit and have contributed to the unique atmosphere of their home games. In 2007, the Panthers held an alumni reunion to celebrate the 1996 team and sold plastic rats to fans to toss onto the ice during an exhibition game, with proceeds going to the Florida Panthers Foundation.
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The term rat trick was coined by Panthers goalie John Vanbiesbrouck
The Florida Panthers, a National Hockey League (NHL) team, have a tradition of throwing plastic rats onto the ice during games. This tradition was started during the 1995-96 season, the team's third in the NHL, when a rat appeared in the dressing room before the team's home opener against the Calgary Flames on October 8, 1995. Scott Mellanby, a Panthers player, killed the rat with his hockey stick and then went on to score two goals in a 4-3 victory over the Flames, leading the Panthers to their first win of the season. John Vanbiesbrouck, the Panthers' goaltender, described the incident to reporters after the game, coining the term "rat trick" as a play on "hat trick." He stated that while Mellanby did not score a hat trick (three goals in one game), he did manage a "rat trick."
The "rat trick" term caught on with fans, who began throwing plastic rats onto the ice to celebrate goals. By the time the Panthers reached the 1996 playoffs, thousands of rats were being thrown onto the ice after every Panthers goal. The rat-tossing craze reached its peak during the Eastern Conference Finals against the Pittsburgh Penguins, with 3,000 rats raining onto the ice following goals. The team officially frowned upon the practice of throwing rats, but they nonetheless embraced it by bringing on Orkin as a sponsor and employing a crew of 40 rink attendants dressed as exterminators to clear the ice after each Florida goal. The "year of the rat" in South Florida saw supermarkets selling "rat cakes" (cupcakes with rats drawn in icing) and baseball's Florida Marlins showing the Panthers' victory over the Penguins on their Jumbotron between innings.
The NHL eventually banned the act of throwing rats onto the ice, citing onerous delays required to clear the ice. However, the tradition has continued, with plastic rats occasionally appearing on the ice during the Panthers' recent successful seasons. In 2007, the Panthers held a "Year of the Rat" alumni reunion to celebrate the 1996 team and raise money for the Florida Panthers Foundation, with members of the 1995-96 team in attendance. Plastic rats were sold for fans to toss onto the ice during the exhibition game, reviving the "rat trick" tradition.
The "rat trick" tradition has become an iconic part of the Florida Panthers' lore, with fans embracing it and even other teams' fans adopting it during games against the Panthers. The tradition has persisted despite the NHL's attempts to discourage it, and it continues to be a unique and memorable part of the team's identity.
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The NHL banned the act in 1996, but it made a comeback in 2012
The tradition of throwing plastic rats onto the ice began during the Florida Panthers' 1995-96 season. It was sparked by an incident in which Panthers forward Scott Mellanby killed a rat in the locker room with his stick and then went on to score two goals in the game. Goaltender John Vanbiesbrouck jokingly coined the term "rat trick", a play on the term "hat trick". The tradition grew throughout the season, with thousands of plastic rats being thrown onto the ice after each Panthers goal by the time they reached the playoffs.
The NHL banned the act of throwing objects onto the ice in the 1996 off-season, citing delays to the game as a result of having to clear the ice. The ban was enforced with a two-minute delay of game penalty for the home team if any objects were thrown. Despite this, the tradition persisted, with plastic rats continuing to make their way onto the ice.
In 2007, the Panthers held a "Year of the Rat" alumni reunion to celebrate the 1996 team and raise money for the Florida Panthers Foundation. As part of the event, plastic rats were sold to fans to throw onto the ice during an exhibition game, with the participation of 19 members of the 1996 team.
The rat-throwing tradition made a significant comeback during the Panthers' successful 2011-12 season. On April 15, 2012, after the Panthers' first playoff victory since 1997, fans threw hundreds of rats onto the ice. The tradition continued, and workers collected the rats after victories to return them to the Pantherland gift shop for resale. However, the team eventually discontinued sales of toy rats at Pantherland due to concerns about the risk of penalties if opposing fans purchased and threw the rats.
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The Florida Panthers sold plastic rats for fans to throw during games
The "rat trick" soon caught on with fans, who started throwing plastic rats onto the ice after Panthers goals. The tradition continued through the Panthers' run to the '96 Cup Final against Colorado, where they were swept by the Avalanche. The NHL then banned the act, citing delays required to clear the ice. Despite the ban, plastic rats continued to make their way onto the ice.
In 2007, the Panthers held a "'Year of the Rat' alumni reunion to celebrate the 1996 team and raise money for the Florida Panthers Foundation. As part of the event, the Panthers sold plastic rats for fans to toss onto the ice during the exhibition game. The team resumed sales of plastic rats at Pantherland in early 2013 as they neared the playoffs.
The tradition of throwing plastic rats onto the ice resurfaced in the 2011-12 NHL season, with fans throwing rats after home victories. On April 15, 2012, after a playoff victory over the New Jersey Devils, hundreds of rats were thrown onto the ice. The team again discontinued sales of toy rats at Pantherland due to concerns about penalties.
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The Year of the Rat in 1996 saw supermarkets sell rat cakes and baseball teams get involved
The tradition of throwing plastic rats onto the ice began during the Florida Panthers' 1995–96 season. Before the team's home opener, Panthers forward Scott Mellanby killed a rat in the locker room with his stick and then went on to score two goals in the Panthers' 4-3 victory over Calgary. Goaltender John Vanbiesbrouck then coined the term "rat trick" as a play on "hat trick". The tradition continued throughout the season, with thousands of plastic rats being thrown onto the ice after each Panthers goal.
The "Year of the Rat" in 1996 saw this tradition reach new heights, with supermarkets selling "rat cakes" (cupcakes with rats drawn in icing) and baseball teams getting involved. The Florida Marlins, for example, showed the Panthers' game seven victory against the Penguins on the Jumbotron between innings on June 1. This was also the year that the NHL changed its rules, allowing referees to penalize the home team if fans disrupted the game by throwing objects onto the ice.
Despite the rule change, the tradition of throwing plastic rats onto the ice continued beyond the 1995–96 season. In 2007, the Panthers held a "Year of the Rat" alumni reunion to celebrate the 1996 team and raise money for the Florida Panthers Foundation. As part of this event, plastic rats were sold to fans to toss onto the ice during the exhibition game. The tradition was revived again in the 2011–12 NHL season, with fans throwing plastic rats onto the ice following home victories.
While the Florida Panthers are the most well-known team associated with the "rat trick", other teams have also embraced the tradition. In the 1996 Stanley Cup Finals, for instance, Colorado Avalanche fans responded to the Panthers' rat-throwing by throwing rat traps onto the ice in Denver following Avalanche goals.
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Frequently asked questions
It started in 1995 when Panthers player Scott Mellanby killed a rat in the locker room with his stick and then went on to score two goals with the same stick. Goalie John Vanbiesbrouck then joked that Mellanby had achieved a "rat trick". Fans soon started throwing plastic rats onto the ice after goals or wins.
The tradition started in 1995 but became popular in 1996, which was also the "Year of the Rat" in the Chinese Zodiac calendar.
Yes, the tradition has been revived in recent years, with fans throwing plastic rats onto the ice during the Panthers' 2023 NHL playoffs.
