NHL freezes Sobotka's swirl

Links (6)

Octopus twirl now illegal, punishable by $10,000 fine
Published 4/19/2008 by George James Malik at Red Wings Snapshots - MLive.com
... : In an e-mail to the Free Press, NHL spokesman Frank Brown gave this explanation: "Because matter flies off the octopus and gets on the ice when he does it." The Wings wouldn't comment. Ducks general manager Brian Burke complained about Sobotka's swinging last year. Before Friday's game, an octopus landed on the ice, as usual, and Nashville defenseman Greg Zanon whacked it aside with his stick. The Detroit News's John Niyo provides a full report: April 19, Detroit News : Some traditions never get old, do they? Like the NHL's uncanny ability to tick off the fans in Detroit, ...

Octopus swinging by Al Sobotka will result in $10,000 fine.
Published 4/19/2008 by adampsyche at SportsFilter
April 19, 2008 Octopus swinging by Al Sobotka will result in $10,000 fine. : "Because matter flies off the octopus and gets on the ice when he does it." :( read story | posted by adampsyche to Hockey at 9:05 AM CDT (one comment) Why now, Colin? I don't get it, fans at The Joe have been doing this for 50 years, it's a tradition. C'mon Red Wing brass, step up to the plate and cover for your ice guy. In fact, maybe the team could give him a $10,000 bonus each time some "anonymous" fan happens to throw one on the ice. Or maybe the linesman could chip-in, I'm sure they are real excited about having to clean that up. Comment icon posted by ...

Octopus twirl now banned
Published 4/19/2008 by Matt Saler at On the Wings
... According to John Niyo, the act of removing an octopus (or any other object) from the ice will be the responsibility of the linesmen from now on. ...

NHL Cracks down Renegade Octopus Twirler
Published 4/19/2008 by Dave at Gorilla Crouch
... of the ice girls who are basically cheerleaders on ice who’s sole purpose is to energize the crowd? I personally like the ice girls more than a rotund guy waving an octopus but that might be the only explanation for why the NHL would institute a $10,000 fine for anyone other than a linesman to remove the octopus from the ice. There’s really no other reason to have an NHL official handle this when its something Sobotka has done with absolutely no problems or controversy for 17 years. ...

NHL issues octopus twirl ban
Published 4/19/2008 by Christy Hammond at Behind the Jersey
... $1,250 per tentacle. In an e-mail to the Free Press, NHL spokesman Frank Brown gave this explanation: “Because matter flies off the octopus and gets on the ice when he does it.” The Wings wouldn’t comment. Ducks general manager Brian Burke complained about Sobotka’s swinging last year. Before Friday’s game, an octopus landed on the ice, as usual, and Nashville defenseman Greg Zanon whacked it aside with his stick. Detroit News Article: “Certain teams and certain traditions, ...

NHL Will Fine Detroit $10K For Octopi ‘Twirling’
Published 5/24/2008 by PUNTE at SPORTSbyBROOKS
... ? Fair enough. The guy owns a business, and he’s a Pens fan. He obviously doesn’t want to contribute to the enemy’s cause. But then the league had to step in and make things ridiculous, as the league does so well. From John Niyo at THE DETROIT NEWS via ...