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“I kiss the inside of my jersey when I put on”: Weird superstitions and pregame rituals of NHL players

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The Times Of Indiapublisher-detail-arrow
01st May, 2025 12:22 IST

You don’t want to jinx it - gameday, so you do everything in your power to make it as positive as you can, even if it is kissing the inside of your jersey. That’s what Vegas Golden Knights ice hockey defenseman Ben Hutton does on his gameday - “I kiss the inside of my jersey when I put on,” he shared with The Associated Press. Another Vegas defenseman, Alex Pietrangelo, prefers to nap before the game begins. He shared with AP, “I nap around the same time. That’s just routine more than ritual.” Let’s look at some more weird superstitions that NHL players call routines or rituals.




Colorado Avalanche goaltender Scott Wedgewood relishes chickpea pasta with marinara sauce before the game



Some people like to have certain kinds of energy-giving foods before the game begins. Late Johnny Gaudreau loved to have a plate of pasta before every NHL game. Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Elvis Merzlikins even got a drawing of the same - plate of pasta - on his goaltending helmet - in honor of Johnny Gaudreau.

Another goaltender for the Colorado Avalance, Scott Wedgewood, prefers “chickpea pasta with marinara sauce, two chicken breasts, and a bowl of chicken noodle soup” before the game. Wedgewood shared with AP, “That’s just a game-on, turn-the-engine-on type of thing. If I didn’t do it, I don’t think it would mentally screw me up.”




Carolina Hurricanes forward Mark Jankowski enjoys a walk in the sunlight while Tomas Hertl finds peace in listening to music before the game



Anything works to calm down a person’s nerves before the showdown. Carolina Hurricanes ice hockey forward Mark Jankowski shared with The Associated Press that he takes his 6-year-old golden retriever for a walk to “Get some sunlight. Get the legs moving a little bit.” Apart from the walk, Jankowski also opts for a nap of 1 hour to 1 hour and a half before the game.




Tomas Hertl, Vegas Golden Knights ice hockey center, is a music buff. For some people, music helps soothe their nerves before the game. Hertl shared with AP, “I am the kind of guy who can listen to everything. I like just the songs - I kind of know I can sing along. I have a terrible voice. I can’t sing, but this I do by myself.” Apart from singing, Tomas Hertl also prefers to dress up a certain way - “Left skate, left shin pad, left elbow(pad). But I don’t think about it. I just do it.”


Also Read: “The rules don’t apply for everyone,” rookie goaltender Jakub Dobes surprised at Tom Wilson and Alex Ovechkin’s hits to his teammates - The Times of India

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