Oh, Rats! The Florida Panthers’ Bizarre Celebration Explained

What do rats and cold-blooded animal murder have to do with an NHL hockey team and its fans? The Florida Panthers have been crowned Stanley Cup champions for the second season in a row. In celebration of that, loyal fans once again threw life-sized plastic rats on the ice. Here’s why.

The Legend of the Rat

In the hours before their home opener in October of 1995 the legend was born. The Panthers were to be pitted against the Calgary Flames when there was a rat lurking in the locker room. Team captain Scott Mellanby “one-timed” it against the wall, mercilessly ending all of its hopes and dreams.

Then, undoubtedly energized from recent bloodlust and grisly murder, Mellanby went on to score two goals against the Flames. John Vanbiesbrouck, a.k.a. “the Beezer” joined in, calling it a “rat trick.”

In the days that followed, rumors of Mellanby’s actions began to swirl around the inner cities and crocodile-ridden swamps of South Florida. People started to throw plastic rats on the ice to commemorate the hairy little warrior who lost his life to a raging madman and his hockey stick.

The Panthers organization even partnered with Orkin, a pest control company, to gather up the rats after the goals. A pest is in the mind of the beholder.

That season was beyond explanation in many regards. There were thousands of synthetic rodents being tossed onto the ice when they made the playoffs for the first time ever. It really got away from the NHL authorities until they later got a handle on it and made a rule.

Modern Day Rodents

Since winning back-to-back Stanley Cup titles, the legend has been rebranded. Brad Marchand has been labeled “Rat King” due to his style of play. Players and fans alike have embraced this and throw rats at him.