In the fast-paced, physical world of hockey, few individual accomplishments are as celebrated as the hat trick. It’s a term that sparks immediate excitement in an arena and commands respect from players and fans alike.
At its simplest, a hat trick is when a single player scores three goals in one game.
However, the significance and the traditions surrounding it make it much more than just a stat line. It’s a testament to a player’s skill, timing, and offensive dominance on a given night.
The Origin: Why Is It Called a “Hat Trick“?
The term actually predates hockey and has its roots in cricket. In the 1850s, a bowler (similar to a pitcher in baseball) who took three wickets on three consecutive deliveries was often rewarded with a hat. The phrase “hat trick” slowly made its way into other sports.
In hockey, the tradition of fans throwing their hats onto the ice to celebrate the feat began in the 1940s. The most commonly cited story involves a Toronto furrier and avid fan named Sammy Taft. In 1946, he promised a new hat to any Toronto Maple Leafs player who scored three goals in a home game. When Alex Kaleta did just that, Taft made good on his promise. The practice caught on, and it has been a beloved tradition ever since.
When a player scores their third goal, the game is typically stopped, and arena staff collect the hats that have been thrown onto the ice. The hats are almost always donated to charity.
The Different Types of Hat Tricks
Not all hat tricks are created equal. Fans and commentators have coined specific terms for particularly impressive versions:
- Natural Hat Trick: This is the most prestigious type. A natural hat trick occurs when a player scores three consecutive goals in a single game, with no other players from either team scoring in between. It demonstrates a period of complete offensive domination.
- Gordie Howe Hat Trick: This is a different, unofficial, and much rarer feat named after the legendary tough guy and scorer, Gordie Howe. A Gordie Howe Hat Trick is when a player records a goal, an assist, and gets into a fight all in the same game. It exemplifies the “complete” old-school hockey player who could score, playmake, and enforce.
- Four-Goal Game: While there’s no official term for scoring four goals (sometimes called a “four-goal hat trick” or “haul”), it is an even more remarkable feat. Scoring four goals in a single NHL game is a rare occurrence that places a player in elite company for that night.
Key Rules and Nuances
- It Doesn’t Matter How the Goals are Scored: The three goals can be scored at even strength, on the power play, short-handed, or from an empty net. They all count equally.
- It Must Be in One Game: The three goals must be scored within the same game, not across multiple matches.
- Overtime Counts: If a player scores their third goal during overtime, it still counts as a hat trick.
Why is a Hat Trick Such a Big Deal?
Scoring in the NHL is incredibly difficult. Goaltenders are larger, faster, and more technically skilled than ever before. Defensive systems are designed to limit high-quality scoring chances. To beat all of that three times in one night is a monumental achievement that often single-handedly drives a team to victory. It’s a showcase of individual brilliance that can electrify a team and its fanbase.
