barbell405 asked:
I really dont know much about Hockey and only started watching it these past few months rather then watch Basketball. Is it true though that the NHL players don’t shave their faces during the playoffs? If so then how did this tradition get started?
it’s called a playoff beard… supposedly started by the islanders in the 1980s. Read up on it here
It’s a Las Vegas thing. When hockey players heard that point shaving was a bad thing they decided to be non bad and not shave during the playoffs.
What can I say they’re good old boys from Saskatchewan.
Welcome to the greatest game.
How the tradition started has always been up for debate; there’s the ‘team bonding’ side, and the ‘with all the travel we don’t have time’ side. Either way…it’s tradition. A two-month beard is a visual clue as to the two months of sacrifice to the team.
And, not surprisingly, other sports have copied it. Not really a surprise given how many other postseason hockey traditions other sports have copied. A few:
-Trophy presentations done on-field in front of fans.
-Playoff beards.
-Postgame/series handshakes.
-The Captain’s “C”.
This is just a parital list.
Damn Nips you started your playoff beard early.
I shaved today for the last time until my Wings are eliminated.
Yep its a tradition they even do it over here in Britain
I’ll be shaving tomorrow and hopefully not again until the Sharks raise the Stanley Cup….
Well I refuse to grow a beard…..I do wear a redwings shirt everyday during the playoffs…….I have lots and a good washer……lol