Rats off to ya! Why Panthers fans throw plastic rodents on the ice
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Kristen Shilton, ESPN NHL reporter
In most cases the phrase “raining rats” would not be construed as a positive.
Unless you’re in south Florida. And specifically at a Florida Panthers game.
Those caveats indicate the appearance of rats — at least the plastic variety — to be an exceptionally good thing. Hockey watchers might have noticed the rodents flying about Florida’s rink during this postseason.
Confused as to why? Allow us to explain.
The Panthers — who are facing the Vegas Golden Knights in the 2023 Stanley Cup Final — have a history with the rat dating back to the franchise’s first Cup Final appearance in 1996. That also happened to be Florida’s inaugural season, when the groundwork was laid for one of the organization’s long-standing traditions: its fans throwing plastic rats on the ice to celebrate goals, of all things.
It began during the opening game of that season when Florida played at Miami Arena. Forward Scott Mellanby had to kill a rat with his stick prior to puck drop that night, then he went out and scored two goals in the Panthers’ 4-3 victory over Calgary. Goaltender John Vanbiesbrouck joked after the game that Mellanby’s accomplishment constituted a “rat trick” and so the season became known as the Year of the Rat.
(Fun fact: 1996 was also the Year of the Rat in the Chinese Zodiac calendar).
Florida’s faithful picked up on the trend and began throwing plastic rats — purchased at gas stations, convenience stores or even at the rink itself — onto the ice after Panthers goals. That continued all the way through Florida’s run to the ’96 Cup Final against Colorado. The Panthers were swept by the Avalanche in that series — souring some of the rat-tossing efficacy at bringing good luck — and then the NHL subsequently banned the act entirely, citing onerous delays required to clear the ice.
Bummer.
Despite the ban, plastic rats have found their way from the stands onto the ice over the years. In 2007, Panthers alumni sold the rats to raise money for the Florida Panthers Foundation. In 2011-12, when Florida made the playoffs for the first time in a decade, rats were back in the rotation (although the team did stop selling them in the arena). During the lean years that followed, Florida tried to keep a spark from the tradition in play, coming up with a secondary mascot named Viktor E. Ratt in 2014.
It’s no great shock, then, that the Panthers’ recent improvements — including three consecutive playoff berths, a Presidents’ Trophy last season and the Cup Final trip this season — have again brought rats back to the forefront. Through thick and thin, the plastic rodents have been part of Florida’s lore.
So the next time you see one in the air, or on the ice, don’t be alarmed. It (more than likely) means something is going well for the home team.
The San Diego Padres placed right-hander Michael King on the 15-day injured list Thursday because of left knee inflammation.
King (4-2, 2.81 ERA) had just come off the IL on Saturday, allowing two runs in as many innings of a no-decision against the Boston Red Sox.
It was his first start since May 18 as he dealt with shoulder inflammation.
Now, he’s back on the IL with a knee issue in a move retroactive to Monday.
It’s a setback for a red-hot Padres team, who will carry a five-game winning streak into a weekend showdown against the Dodgers in Los Angeles. First-place San Diego is one game ahead of L.A. in the NL West.
King had been scheduled to start the series opener Friday.
In the corresponding roster move, the Padres recalled right-hander Randy Vásquez from Triple-A El Paso.
While the Milwaukee Brewers keep on rolling, another Wisconsin business is stocking up on beef and buns.
For the third time in its history, George Webb Restaurants will make good on its promise of giving away free hamburgers as part of a longstanding promotion to celebrate the Brewers winning 12 consecutive games.
The free burger giveaway will be held Wednesday from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. CT at all 23 of the restaurant’s locations throughout Wisconsin. Vouchers for a burger at a later date will be available at all locations starting Friday.
“Hungry fans are welcome to stop by any location for a free, juicy burger and some camaraderie with fellow baseball fans,” the restaurant said on its website.
Starting way back in the 1940s, when Milwaukee was home to the minor league Brewers of the old American Association, George Webb promised free burgers if the local baseball team won 17 consecutive games.
The promotion dropped to 13 games by the time the Braves made Milwaukee a big league city in 1953, but that franchise couldn’t make it happen before departing for Atlanta in 1966.
George Webb changed the promotion to 12 games when the Brewers moved from Seattle in 1970. In 1987, the Brewers opened the season with 13 wins in a row, and more than 170,000 burgers were given away to mark the occasion.
The Brewers accomplished the feat a second time in 2018, closing the regular season with eight victories followed by four playoff wins. That streak led to 90,000 free burgers being given away in addition to 100,000 redeemable vouchers.
Prior to reaching the magic mark on Wednesday, the Brewers had come close on a few occasions, including an 11-game winning streak earlier this season.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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