The history of hat tricks in sports is a fascinating tale of tradition and fan culture. From cricket to hockey, the term 'hat trick' has evolved and adapted, but its essence remains. In this article, we explore the origins of the hat trick, its journey through different sports, and its special place in hockey.
A Cricket Origin Story
The phrase 'hat trick' was first coined in cricket, where it refers to a pitcher dismissing three batters with three consecutive balls. This rare feat was initially rewarded with a hat, which is how the term came to be associated with success. In the 19th century, British newspapers reported cricketers receiving hats as prizes, as their meager earnings were supplemented by material rewards like bats, balls, and watches.
By 1874, 'hat trick' had become the standard term for this achievement, surpassing 'hat feat' and 'bowling a gallon.' The latter was a reference to a gallon of beer, a common reward for cricketers. Interestingly, 'cap trick' didn't catch on, despite cricket players wearing caps, possibly because the hat was a more distinctive and impressive prize.
Hat Tricks in Hockey
In hockey, a hat trick is more than just scoring three goals. It's a celebration that often involves fans tossing their hats onto the rink. This tradition began with a free hat, a marketing strategy by two Canadian hat shops, Sammy Taft: World Famous Hatter in Toronto and Henri Henri in Montreal. The owners started gifting hockey players hats from their stores, and fans soon followed suit.
The connection between three goals and hats was established, and fans began throwing their headwear onto the ice. Spectators would retrieve their hats at a counter after the game, and Henri Henri's owner had a clever idea: handing out cards with the game schedule on one side and a defiant message on the other, 'Like Hell it's yours! Put it back and try another.'
Today, the tossed hats are given to the player who scored the hat trick or displayed in the arena's foyer. This tradition is a testament to hockey's reverence for tradition, as Philip Pritchard, vice president and curator of the Hockey Hall of Fame, notes. While other sports have abandoned the free hat tradition, hockey fans have kept it alive, making the hat trick a unique and cherished part of the game.
