Florida Panthers' Rat Trick: A Hockey Tradition Born from a Locker Room Rat

In the world of professional sports, where traditions often hold special significance, the Florida Panthers hockey team boasts a unique and quirky custom: the throwing of rats onto the ice after a victory. This unusual tradition, born in 1995, started when then-Panther Scott Mellanby famously killed a rat in the locker room with his hockey stick and subsequently scored two goals in the same game. "It was just one of those weird things that happened," Mellanby recalled in a later interview. The event sparked a fan-led tradition of throwing plush rats (not real ones) onto the ice following every Panthers win, solidifying the team's unique identity and adding a touch of playful chaos to their games. The tradition continues to this day, serving as a testament to the team's spirit and its connection with its enthusiastic fan base.