After last weeks hat trick by Anaheim's Corey Perry on opening night, Calgary's Mayson Raymond and Carolina's Jiri Tlusty kept the magic rolling through the weekend with their own tricks from the hat. Tampa Bay Lightning Captain Steven Stamkos started this week off with a hat trick Monday night vs the Montreal Canadiens. This wasn't Stamkos's 1st hat trick nor will it be his last at this rate. In Stamkos' 60 goal season a few years back recorded two hat tricks. If you youtube 'Stamkos hat trick' there is no shortage.
Where does the term Hat Trick come from? In all of my research it always comes back to a cricket game played in 1858. Three wickets were taken by a player, a fund was started and a hat was purchased for the player. The NHL can be thanked for making the term popular in modern day sports. Fans often throw a hat onto the ice when a hat trick is accomplished. Legends will go on forever about when the term was first used during a game and how the throwing of the hats started so we can leave that part a mystery.
The 2nd hat trick this week was Tyler Seguin's Tuesday night vs the Columbus Blue Jackets. Three goals scored and all assisted by Jamie Benn. Which leads me to my next fun fact……. the Gordie Howe Hat Trick!
The Gordie Howe Hat Trick is a goal, an assist and a fight by the same player in a single game. This type of hat trick got its name after the famous Gordie Howe who played for the Detroit Red Wings from 1946 all the way to 1971. He gained popularity for his ability to light up the score board and drop the gloves to throw a few knuckle sandwiches.
Tuesday night Jamie Benn, Captain of the Dallas Stars scored a goal, assisted all 3 of Tyler Seguin's goals and then fought Blue Jacket, Nick Foligno. Don't know who Jamie Benn is? Well according to Sidney Crosby and Patrick Kane, Benn is the most underrated player in the NHL. A power forward who plays left wing, Benn is the guy you want on your team for his scoring ability and willingness to drop the gloves. However, if you watch a Dallas Stars game you may be seeing double Benn on the ice. Jamie's older brother Jordie Benn also plays for the Stars. Jordie plays defense and wears #24 while Jamie is #14.
And that hockey fans is a brief history of the Hat Trick and the Gordie Howe Hat Trick. Above you can watch Steven Stamkos' hat trick while below I have included Tyler Seguin's hat trick and Jamie Benn's goal and fight! Until next time!