But, what exactly is up with those rats on the ice? What’s a “rat trick”? These are questions I’m still getting asked here by friends and colleagues, even with its origins dating back 28 years when the fledgling Panthers were playing their games at the (since demolished) Miami Arena.

It was a term coined by then Panthers goalie, John Vanbiesbrouck, after teammate Scott Mellanby scored 2 goals in a game following a run-in with a particular rodent prior to face-off. It’s inspired fans to throw plastic rats onto the ice, a tradition that still lives (unlike the original rat) all these years later.

Check out this video, courtesy of ESPN, where they spoke with Scott, himself, to get the whole story.

P.S. No rats were harmed in the writing of this article!