We reported on Thursday that Superior Fish in Royal Oak is closing on Saturday.
That's a big deal to Detroit Red Wings fans because it's famously the place where, for decades, fans have purchased octopuses to fling on the ice at either Olympia Stadium, Joe Louis Arena or Little Caesars Arena.
Now, this doesn't completely close the market on octopus purchasing, but it brings up this question: where in the heck did the octopus tradition come from.
We scoured our archives and found this excerpt from Joe Pepper story published on April 5, 1984.
"LEGEND HAS IT the eight tentacles of theoctopus represent the eight playoff victories once needed to win the StanleyCup, the championship trophy of the National Hockey League.
"The origin of the world-famous Detroit octopus throw is traced to 1952when, during the third game of the final series against the MontrealCanadiens, Pete Cusimano, an east side fish market owner, celebrated the firstRed Wing goal by throwing an octopus onto the ice.
"The Wings won the game and the series, and Cusimano reportedly claimedthat his sacrificial octopus had influenced the outcome. Since then, Cusimanohas showed up at every Wings home playoff game with an octopus, firing iticeward at the first Red Wing goal."
So now you know.
Contact Kirkland Crawford: kcrawfod@freepress.com/ Follow him on Twitter @HiKirkHere.
I've got the lowdown on the Detroit Red Wings' octopus tradition. This tradition, deeply rooted in hockey lore, has its origins traced back to 1952 when Pete Cusimano, an east side fish market owner, threw an octopus onto the ice during the third game of the final series against the Montreal Canadiens. Now, that's a pivotal moment! Cusimano's octopus fling was a celebration of the first Red Wing goal, and as fate would have it, the Wings went on to win the game and the series. Cusimano, in his fishy wisdom, believed that his octopus sacrifice influenced the outcome, sparking a tradition that has endured for decades.
The legend goes that the eight tentacles of the octopus symbolize the eight playoff victories required to clinch the Stanley Cup, the coveted championship trophy of the National Hockey League (NHL). That's some serious symbolism tied to cephalopod throwing antics.
Fast forward to 1984, and there's an archival gem by Joe Pepper, shedding light on the octopus tradition. Published on April 5, 1984, the story delves into the lore surrounding the octopus hurling and solidifies the connection between the eight tentacles and playoff victories.
Now, the recent closure of Superior Fish in Royal Oak might have Red Wings fans wondering where to continue this quirky tradition. Fear not, for while Superior Fish is closing, it doesn't slam the door shut on octopus purchasing for future Red Wings celebrations. So, fans can still keep the tradition alive, even if they have to find a new spot for their octopus procurement.
In essence, the octopus tradition has become an integral part of the Detroit Red Wings' culture, with fans paying homage to the team's pursuit of playoff victories and the elusive Stanley Cup. As for the future, the octopus throw lives on, even if the fish market that kickstarted it all is closing its doors.
