The hockey octopus mascot is a beloved tradition in the sport of ice hockey. Originating in Detroit, Michigan, this unique mascot has become synonymous with the city's beloved hockey team, the Detroit Red Wings. The tradition began in 1952 when two fans, Pete and Jerry Cusimano, threw an octopus onto the ice during a game. At the time, the Red Wings were competing in the Stanley Cup playoffs, and the eight legs of the octopus symbolized the eight wins needed to win the championship. Since then, the hockey octopus mascot has become a symbol of good luck and team spirit for the Red Wings and their fans. The tradition of throwing octopuses onto the ice has continued throughout the years, with fans flinging the mascot onto the playing surface to celebrate goals, victories, and important moments during games.
By contrast, the most under-seen main-stage band of the weekend are Alexisonfire, whose dynamic post-hardcore lurches between brute force and sensitivity. AA Williams nears similar levels of emotion on the fourth stage, that is, until nearby hard rockers Halestorm drown out her tender goth crooning. On the second stage, Carcass appease Saturday’s death metal acolytes with their snarling vocals and slicing guitar leads. More extreme batterings come from Behemoth on Sunday, with the facepaint and fire adding lashings of theatre on top.
The good news is that every single road-weary festivalgoer will have something to make that trip worthwhile, with Metallica s legions being especially spoiled. Must-hears Enter Sandman and Nothing Else Matters, long-untouched singles like King Nothing and beloved album cuts from Welcome Home Sanitarium to Battery make the twin sets the quintessential career recap.
The tradition of throwing octopuses onto the ice has continued throughout the years, with fans flinging the mascot onto the playing surface to celebrate goals, victories, and important moments during games. The sight of a large, slimy octopus being thrown onto the ice has become an iconic and expected part of Red Wings games. The octopuses are often smuggled into the arena by fans, who carefully hide the creatures under their clothing to avoid detection.
Download festival review – 20th birthday brings double Metallica, occult glam and a new breed
Y ou can’t blame anyone that rocked up to Download 2023 in a huff or in a hurry. British rock’s biggest weekend has grown even bigger on its 20th anniversary, adding a full extra day and boasting a lineup so stacked that the festival is completely sold out for the very first time. However, 100,000 people descending onto rural Leicestershire is a surefire formula for chaos, and horror stories such as six-mile drives taking six hours are frequently spun across the weekend.
‘We are the great unwashed’: Iron Maiden, Metallica and more on 20 years of Download Read moreThe good news is that every single road-weary festivalgoer will have something to make that trip worthwhile, with Metallica’s legions being especially spoiled. The biggest metal band ever headline the main stage on Thursday and Saturday, yet none of their four hours feel wasted. Must-hears Enter Sandman and Nothing Else Matters, long-untouched singles like King Nothing and beloved album cuts from Welcome Home (Sanitarium) to Battery make the twin sets the quintessential career recap. Given frontman James Hetfield’s recent on-stage lamentations about getting older and Metallica’s ever-slowing touring schedule, this feels like a victorious yet bittersweet apex for metal’s elder statesmen.
Imperious … Metallica play Download. Photograph: Jason Sheldon/Junction10/Shutterstock
The closest competitor for “band of the weekend” are Saturday’s third-stage headliners Coheed and Cambria. The New Yorkers wrap prog, pop, emo and metal sounds into one anthemic whole. They’re infinitely more versatile than Disturbed, who lean so heavily on their jock-metal formula that several songs become indistinguishable.
Bring Me the Horizon are first-time main-stage headliners on Friday. Between modern metal hit Shadow Moses and the electro-pop of Die4u, the band sound confused about whether to emulate Bullet for My Valentine or Justin Bieber, but the northerners earn their place with an extravaganza of pyro and lavish video imagery. A host of similarly pop-minded acts grace the main stage the same day, of whom Pendulum are by far the best. Despite their newest album being 13 years old, Self vs Self and Watercolour prove the five-piece still have dynamism and dancefloor chops.
Fans in the mosh pit watching Pupil Slicer. Photograph: Christopher Bethell/The Guardian
By contrast, the most under-seen main-stage band of the weekend are Alexisonfire, whose dynamic post-hardcore lurches between brute force and sensitivity. AA Williams nears similar levels of emotion on the fourth stage, that is, until nearby hard rockers Halestorm drown out her tender goth crooning. On the second stage, Carcass appease Saturday’s death metal acolytes with their snarling vocals and slicing guitar leads. More extreme batterings come from Behemoth on Sunday, with the facepaint and fire adding lashings of theatre on top.
There’s a spread of auspicious Download debuts, as well. Metalcore upstarts Pupil Slicer and Graphic Nature both ignite moshpits inside the fourth stage’s jam-packed tent. Most promising of the new breed, though, is Bloodywood: the New Delhi trio imbue righteous nu-metal with Indian folk in front of a rapt main-stage crowd.
Fans in the moshpits at Download festival – in pictures Read moreDownload comes to an aptly eclectic close as Ghost, whose occult glam fuses the best of Abba and Candlemass, segue into final headliners Slipknot. Despite being down keyboardist Craig Jones (who mysteriously left the band on Wednesday), The Nine still rage on full power, blasting through a set of largely turn-of-the-millennium bruisers. “Good! Night!” vocalist Corey Taylor screams – and the thousands before him pray it won’t take another six hours to get home.
Many fans decorate the octopuses with Red Wings jerseys or jerseys of their favorite players before throwing them onto the ice. While the hockey octopus mascot is unique to the Detroit Red Wings, it has also been adopted by other hockey teams and cities. The tradition has spread to other teams in the National Hockey League (NHL) and has even been used by minor league and international teams. However, the Detroit Red Wings and their fans remain the most closely associated with the tradition of the hockey octopus mascot. The hockey octopus mascot is a colorful and fun tradition that adds to the excitement and atmosphere of Red Wings games. It is a symbol of team pride, good luck, and team spirit. While some may find the tradition strange or unusual, it has become an integral part of the hockey culture in Detroit and is celebrated by fans and players alike. Whether it's a regular season game or a playoff matchup, you can be sure that the sight of an octopus being tossed onto the ice will bring cheers and excitement from the crowd. The hockey octopus mascot is a tradition that showcases the passion and dedication of Detroit Red Wing fans and the uniqueness of the sport of hockey..
Reviews for "The Evolution and Representation of the Hockey Octopus Mascot in Merchandise"
1. John - 1/5 - I was really disappointed with the hockey octopus mascot. It just seemed so out of place and didn't add anything to the game. I found it distracting and quite frankly, it was quite creepy to look at. I couldn't focus on the game because this strange creature was always lurking around. I really hope the team considers getting rid of this mascot; it's just not enjoyable to me and takes away from the overall experience.
2. Sarah - 2/5 - I can understand the concept of a hockey octopus mascot, with the tradition of throwing octopuses onto the ice in some games. However, I found the execution of this mascot to be quite underwhelming. It looked more like a cheap Halloween costume than an official mascot. The colors were bland, the design was unappealing, and it didn't have any distinctive features that made it memorable or endearing. I think the team needs to go back to the drawing board and come up with a better mascot that actually enhances the game atmosphere.
3. David - 3/5 - While I appreciate the effort to have a unique mascot that ties into the team's traditions, I personally didn't find the hockey octopus mascot very exciting. It just felt like a gimmick to me, and I think the team should focus more on their performance on the ice rather than relying on a mascot to create hype. I understand that mascots can bring a certain level of entertainment during breaks and intermissions, but this one didn't do it for me. It lacked charisma and didn't have any memorable interactions with the fans. Overall, it was just a forgettable addition to the game experience.
4. Emily - 2/5 - The hockey octopus mascot was a huge miss for me. It seemed like a desperate attempt to appeal to the fans by incorporating a local tradition, but it fell flat. The design was unimpressive and lacked any creativity. It didn't have any character or personality that made it interesting or fun to watch. It felt like an afterthought rather than a well-thought-out mascot. I think the team needs to reevaluate their choice and bring in a mascot that actually engages the crowd and adds to the excitement of the game.