How long before some selfish rat spoils it?

by Donny Rivette on Dec 15, 2011 8:28 PM EST in Florida Panthers Opinion

Lost & Found gonna be a busy spot. Pic via Magdalena C./FaceBook

NHL Rule 63.4 - Objects thrown on the ice (subsection):

When objects [read: plastic, rubber, live, deceased or otherwise] are thrown on the ice during a stoppage in play, including after the scoring of a goal, the Referee shall have announced over the public address system that any further occurrences will result in a bench minor penalty being assessed to the home team.

Ok, that being said, the wording is a bit fuzzy, as in he'll have it announced that a penalty will be forthcoming after a "further occurrence", whatever that means (after next whistle?). Then again, fuzzy or not: would you volunteer to be the penalty-causing guinea pig in a one-goal game?

We're all thrilled beyond words that the rats have returned - due primarily to a very few who kept the fire burning through some awfully desolate seasons. This unique practice is ingrained in the region, and scores of non-hockey locals continue responding to an off-the-cuff query about the Panthers with one of two words: "Vanbiesbrouck" or "rats". So cool, that.

But it wouldn't take much to ruin the goodwill. Was an easy gig in 1995-96, when a mass-launch of the wee-beasties was a regular occurrence and more importantly, legal within the NHL's rulebook. Not so today, wherein one plastic toy impacts ice prior to the final whistle and it's curtains for the Cats, in the shape of a two-minute minor.

Can only hope folks jumping aboard the bandwagon (and there remains plenty of room) have enough sense to realize the consequence to the team involved when making the decision to toss a rat at the wrong moment.

Anyone else miss the good ol' days?

Poll

Blame it on alcohol or ignorance, someone in the BAC crowd will likely be responsible for a 2-minute minor courtesy of an ill-timed rat. How long, if at all, before such an incursion?

Two weeks

43 votes

One month

21 votes

Two months

8 votes

Won't happen in the regular season

36 votes

108 votes | Poll has closed

Tweet Comment 38 comments | 0 recs |

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Comments

Two weeks, then hopefully never again.

I’m putting here for reflection later on in the season…. #14 Tomas [Fleischmann] is getting a 40G season. FLASH COUNT: 12G/18A
by RPC on Sep 17, 2011 5:20 PM MDT
Find me on Twidduh And look at my Marmots

by Chris S Roberts on Dec 15, 2011 8:39 PM EST reply actions

Would be nice if there was a “therefore” at the top of the sentence, because they just informed them what happens if someone does toss one. Selling em for a stupid $5, though, I don’t think it’ll go away.

by rbeese on Dec 15, 2011 8:55 PM EST reply actions

Can’t legislate stupidity out of the equation, unfortunately

Litter Box Cats - Your tarp-free Florida Panthers Colossus

by Donny Rivette on Dec 15, 2011 8:58 PM EST up reply actions

Oh, if only

Your 2011 Stanley Cup Champion Boston Bruins

Hockey Blog Adventure is my blog but I'm way more active on Twitter.) GO BRUINS! (and Wild!)

by Cornelius Hardenbergh on Dec 16, 2011 9:31 AM EST up reply actions

If you go to games regularly, surely one could find rats for cheaper, just like food, beer ect. I think the rats are for souvenirs at 5$

by Chris S Roberts on Dec 15, 2011 9:06 PM EST up reply actions

BTW…great to see your name here, R.T. :)

Litter Box Cats - Your tarp-free Florida Panthers Colossus

by Donny Rivette on Dec 15, 2011 9:09 PM EST up reply actions

What about hat tricks? I think a few years back when Booth scored a hat trick a few rats hit the ice along with the hats. I wonder what they’d do then, especially if a bunch of rats hit the ice.

IN DALE WE TRUST

by CubanCatsFan on Dec 15, 2011 9:01 PM EST reply actions

I think if crews are on the ice anyways, they probably wont care. Call it the FLA exception (if true)

by Chris S Roberts on Dec 15, 2011 9:05 PM EST up reply actions

Hats fly and no one gets a penalty.. I think a rat instead of a hat isn’t going to cause a problem.
I say we aren’t going to have anyone blow it until we hit playoffs. Most of us who did the tossing of old are the one’s most interested in having it come back. We know better. The casual attendee isn’t going to buy a rat or bring one and if they did, the reminder about when to toss it will come up as the rules/regulation will be on screen nightly.
What about opposing team fans who come out to games? Their team is losing and they chuck one out there- I say its a possibility.

I hereby predict Captain Mike Weaver #43 will score 6G 20A -RCR 0G9A 12/6
Be impeccable with your word, don't take anything personally, don't make assumptions, always do your best...

by RPC on Dec 15, 2011 9:11 PM EST up reply actions

From the rule:

Articles thrown onto the ice following a special occasion (i.e. hat trick) will not result in a bench minor penalty being assessed.

Litter Box Cats - Your tarp-free Florida Panthers Colossus

by Donny Rivette on Dec 15, 2011 9:12 PM EST up reply actions

Would assume that deferral includes rats, since it’s only identifying “articles”, and nothing specific. In fact, nothing anywhere is specifically targeted as verboten.

Litter Box Cats - Your tarp-free Florida Panthers Colossus

by Donny Rivette on Dec 15, 2011 9:14 PM EST up reply actions

That’s so they can get the catfish in Nashville and Octopi in Detroit

Your 2011 Stanley Cup Champion Boston Bruins

Hockey Blog Adventure is my blog but I'm way more active on Twitter.) GO BRUINS! (and Wild!)

by Cornelius Hardenbergh on Dec 16, 2011 9:32 AM EST up reply actions

The catfish was brilliant

by Chris S Roberts on Dec 16, 2011 6:36 PM EST up reply actions

agreed

Your 2011 Stanley Cup Champion Boston Bruins

Hockey Blog Adventure is my blog but I'm way more active on Twitter.) GO BRUINS! (and Wild!)

by Cornelius Hardenbergh on Dec 16, 2011 7:04 PM EST up reply actions

OT

You’re all following LBC in “Widescreen”, right? If not, check the righthand sidebar – near the top – and click “wide”. Narrow just doesn’t look too good. At all.

Litter Box Cats - Your tarp-free Florida Panthers Colossus

by Donny Rivette on Dec 15, 2011 9:26 PM EST reply actions 1 recs

pro-click

Your 2011 Stanley Cup Champion Boston Bruins

Hockey Blog Adventure is my blog but I'm way more active on Twitter.) GO BRUINS! (and Wild!)

by Cornelius Hardenbergh on Dec 16, 2011 9:32 AM EST up reply actions

Can’t wait to see some fans rat blocking someone who attempts it. There’s no rule for pelting a stupid person with a bottle if no one “sees” you right?

Fish, Heatles, Cats, Fins, Noles

by National Mario on Dec 15, 2011 10:03 PM EST reply actions

See what worries me is not an over exhuberant Panthers fan but how about a large group of the “other” teams fans. How hard would it be for the 8000 or so Penguin/Flyer/Rag or g-d forbid Habs fans to toss them on the ice after a Panther goal in effect giving “their club” a power play.

Funny thing is is Red Wings fans travel all over the country bringing their stinkin squid with them everywhere and I am yet to see a penalty called against their traveling horde. If I ever saw one fo those bastards running down my walkway in the BAC I would tackle his ass and deliver the blood fucking beatdown he deserves.

by catfan927 on Dec 15, 2011 11:22 PM EST reply actions

Grabbing one octopus or two octopi isn’t as bad as having to shovel hundreds of rats off the ice.

by MrOmnipotent on Dec 16, 2011 3:02 AM EST up reply actions

Ya but it’s a goddamn dead animal!

by pukeoncops on Dec 16, 2011 7:21 AM EST via mobile up reply actions

And a tasty one when cooked correctly

by MrOmnipotent on Dec 16, 2011 11:41 AM EST up reply actions

This comment has been endorsed by PETA (People for the Eating of Tasty Animals)

The artist formerly known as L'Mysterioso

by Spencer-IV on Dec 18, 2011 3:01 AM EST up reply actions

Actually its worse. The squid tend to break up showering other fans, players and leaving on hell of a mess on the ice. Squid slime and little parts do not clean up easily.

And the only place I’ve seen people ejected for doing it is in Detroit ironically.

Seeing Red since 1994.

by coasterg on Dec 16, 2011 7:43 AM EST up reply actions

Not true – while they didn’t dish a penalty last year – the guy who chucked an octopus last year at the Cats/Wings game got loudly escorted away by two Sunrise cops.

by badger737 on Dec 16, 2011 8:03 AM EST up reply actions

And it was a thing of beauty, it was …

by OldDave on Dec 16, 2011 10:11 AM EST up reply actions

I wonder if he was prosecuted.

by jimmyh71 on Dec 16, 2011 1:40 PM EST up reply actions

Dunno. I have my doubts – the DA’s office probably thought “Octopi Tossing? He must be off his nut; maybe somebody should Baker Act his a$$, but I don’t have time to deal with small potatoes like that…”

by OldDave on Dec 16, 2011 3:50 PM EST up reply actions

I was upset to see rats fly after the devils loss, along with several water bottles, sodas and other random trash….

by Robert Wright on Dec 15, 2011 11:52 PM EST reply actions

I wouldn’t exactly call a kid or even an adult who doesn’t know any better and gets into the game and throws his rat on the ice after a goal a ‘selfish rat’. It’s bound to happen eventually

by eliran2 on Dec 16, 2011 1:36 AM EST reply actions

I’m sure some smart-a** will throw one eventually during the game. It’s going to happen – after Xmas.

The real question is – if one goes, can we all open up or is it a case of one penalty per rat? We need a ruling here. I say if one goes, screw it. Let those plastic rats fly.

by badger737 on Dec 16, 2011 8:08 AM EST reply actions

The possibility of an opposing fan giving the Cats a 2 minute minor penalty with a flick of the wrist is scarry…..Point out the fan to security….Arrest the culprit and it won’t happen again…..

by LAUSMAN on Dec 16, 2011 9:05 AM EST reply actions

Best solution: fill the building with Panthers fans.

Your 2011 Stanley Cup Champion Boston Bruins

Hockey Blog Adventure is my blog but I'm way more active on Twitter.) GO BRUINS! (and Wild!)

by Cornelius Hardenbergh on Dec 16, 2011 9:33 AM EST up reply actions

Not as easy of a task as it sounds down here.

IN DALE WE TRUST

by CubanCatsFan on Dec 16, 2011 10:52 AM EST up reply actions

Get Kris Versteeg on TV pronto

Your 2011 Stanley Cup Champion Boston Bruins

Hockey Blog Adventure is my blog but I'm way more active on Twitter.) GO BRUINS! (and Wild!)

by Cornelius Hardenbergh on Dec 16, 2011 11:21 AM EST up reply actions

^This.

Hockey is a business, only we fans love it as a game.

by JDMorris on Dec 16, 2011 11:02 AM EST up reply actions

Sounds like Mike Milbury is in some hot water

http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/news;_ylt=AvJ.YxoAxCGU5F2.s3NqwvI5nYcB?slug=ap-milbury-assault

A lil thunder and a lil lightning is what the Cats are going to bring this year.

by trinidaddy on Dec 16, 2011 3:50 PM EST reply actions

From my buddy, Henry...

by VanMurph on Dec 17, 2011 6:59 PM EST up reply actions

Good news, it's happened.

The people that weren’t paying attention to the shootouts on Friday night took care of it. Not only was it in a situation where we couldn’t get a penalty but we also iced the shooter. Sounds like we won.

The artist formerly known as L'Mysterioso

by Spencer-IV on Dec 18, 2011 3:07 AM EST reply actions