<P> The Legend of the Octopus is a sports tradition during Detroit Red Wings home playoff games involving dead octopuses thrown onto the ice rink . The origins of the activity go back to the 1952 playoffs , when a National Hockey League team played two best - of - seven series to capture the Stanley Cup . Having eight arms , the octopus symbolized the number of playoff wins necessary for the Red Wings to win the Stanley Cup . The practice started April 15 , 1952 , when Pete and Jerry Cusimano , brothers and storeowners in Detroit 's Eastern Market , hurled an octopus into the rink of The Old Red Barn . The team swept the Toronto Maple Leafs and Montreal Canadiens en route to winning the championship , as well as winning two of the next three championships . </P>
<P> The Legend of the Octopus is a sports tradition during Detroit Red Wings home playoff games involving dead octopuses thrown onto the ice rink . The origins of the activity go back to the 1952 playoffs , when a National Hockey League team played two best - of - seven series to capture the Stanley Cup . Having eight arms , the octopus symbolized the number of playoff wins necessary for the Red Wings to win the Stanley Cup . The practice started April 15 , 1952 , when Pete and Jerry Cusimano , brothers and storeowners in Detroit 's Eastern Market , hurled an octopus into the rink of The Old Red Barn . The team swept the Toronto Maple Leafs and Montreal Canadiens en route to winning the championship , as well as winning two of the next three championships . </P>
how did throwing an octopus on the ice start
how did throwing an octopus on the ice start
April 15 , 1952 , when Pete and Jerry Cusimano , brothers and storeowners in Detroit 's Eastern Market , hurled an octopus into the rink of The Old Red Barn
April 15 , 1952 , when Pete and Jerry Cusimano , brothers and storeowners in Detroit 's Eastern Market , hurled an octopus into the rink of The Old Red Barn