As the Detroit Red Wings played their final game in Joe Louis Arena, hockey fans defied a call to end the age-old tradition of tossing octopus onto the ice.
Dozens of the eight-tentacled creatures were flung down from the stands as Detroit trounced the New Jersey Devils 4-1 Sunday.
The tradition, which dates back more than six decades, is actually outlawed by both the NHL franchise and city bylaws, but nobody really enforces those rules. And, as the Red Wings ended their ride at Joe, moving next season to the Little Caesars Arena, the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals hoped for a final crack down on the practise. Or, at least, compel a change of heart among fans.
“Octopuses are intelligent, sensitive animals who feel pain, and it’s no more acceptable to kill one for such a disrespectful, frivolous, and stupid purpose than it is to throw dead bear cubs onto the ice during a Bruins game,” PETA President Ingrid Newkirk explained.
In the letter to the team Friday, PETA called on the organization to actually penalize fans bringing in octopus with a $5,000 fine – which is 10 times the existing, rarely laid penalty for littering a field of play — and banned from games for life.
The team, or the league, hasn’t exactly enforced the rules over the years.
It gets the people going! 🐙 #LGRW pic.twitter.com/RQlYyucnea
— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) April 18, 2016
Media always covered it.
Despite the disgust of some critics.
#RedWings please STOP the fan’s barbaric practice of throwing the octopus on the ice! @peta #Detroit #Hockey https://t.co/nDy6hzAhp6
— Peggy K. Goodwin (@PAPROUSA) April 10, 2017
Throwing octopus on the ice should be illegal #Detroit #RedWings #joelouisarena
— Mr X (@offensiveasfuk) April 9, 2017
This is completely unfair to the poor Octopus. This must stop. #CallOutNews #Detroit #NHL pic.twitter.com/prSPfsKA6t
— Corry Todd (@CorryTodd) April 9, 2017
And on Sunday, fans certainly ignored PETA’s plea. The DetroitRedWings.com, an absurd number – 35 – octopus were thrown in during the finale.
So final 🐙 count: 35.#RedWings #FarewellToTheJoe
— Dana Wakiji (@Dwakiji) April 9, 2017
The octopus pile is getting bigger #Farewell2TheJoe #FarewellToTheJoe @JoeLouisArena @DetroitRedWings pic.twitter.com/50mosxpKGa
— The Detroit News (@detroitnews) April 9, 2017
PETA “don’t throw Octopus anymore”
Detroit fans “hold my beer” https://t.co/S027upeM7f— CBJ Prospects (@CBJProspects) April 10, 2017
Take that @PETA 37 octopus thrown at the final game at Joe Louis Arena and not one fined. TRADITION LIVES ON IN DETROIT.
— T!M 2⃣3⃣™ (@DragonFan96) April 10, 2017
PETA demanded the Red Wings fine people who threw an octopus. Fans responded by throwing a million of them. I love Detroit.
— Clickbait Keith (@kpharkins) April 10, 2017
@peta Lots of tasty octopus in Detroit tonight 🐙
— Jon (@bigsoccerboi) April 9, 2017
Official: 31 Octopi thrown on ice from the stands at The Joe tonight. pic.twitter.com/C7yHpZGXbe
— Mike Morreale (@mikemorrealeNHL) April 10, 2017
The animals are actually purchased dead from local stores – selling out heading into today’s game – but that’s hardly acceptable to PETA.
“Dead or alive, animals do not belong in an ice hockey arena. Please urge the National Hockey League (NHL) to institute a policy against allowing animals at games and events,” the organization said, pointing to a live penguin stunt at a Pittsburgh Penguins game.
The tradition, by the way, dates back to April 15, 1952 when two brothers who owned a market threw one on the ice to represent the number of playoff wins needed to win the Stanley Cup. (A purple octopus is the teams official-unoffical mascot.)
The Red Wings, for the record, did not make the playoffs this year. Time will only tell if the tradition continues at the team’s new digs next season.
Okay @peta , no one else will ever throw an octopus at @JoeLouisArena . You win this round, congratulations
— Alec Petrelak (@APetrelak) April 10, 2017
I WILL stuff an octopus in my pants and throw it on the ice one day before i die!
— Darrell (@Detroit_Raver) April 10, 2017
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