10 Mind-Blowing Celebration Ideas the Toronto Maple Leafs Need to Try
1. The “Peace Release”
This might be the most beautiful of all celebrations. Upon scoring the goal, shooter takes a knee and removes his hockey gloves. He’ll then reach into one of them and pull out two doves who gracefully fly into the rafters of the arena. The glove will of course need to be rigged with a special compartment to keep the birds safe. To make this celebration even more fruitful, train the doves to poop on opposing players. Now, that’s art!
2. The “Conga Line”
Once the puck crosses the goal line, the goal scorer skates to the blue line with each of their four shift-mates lining up behind them, holding the hips of the player ahead of them. They all simultaneously kick their feet as they dance a lap around the ice.
3. The “Selfie Celebration”
The Leafs player who scores first waits for those on the ice to congregate in a tight group behind him. He then raise up his stick, acting as though it is a selfie stick. They all smile at the blade, as if it was a a cell phone. To really kick it up a notch, the player can whip out their actual phone to take a selfie with their teammates. Pro tip: a rigged glove for the “peace release” can be reused to carry a cell phone.
4. The “Group Hug”
After scoring, everyone on the ice gathers around the center circle and slowly skate in together with arms open wide. The moment when all five skaters actually hug will instantly send the crowd into a frenzy.
5. The “Human Pyramid”
The Mighty Ducks had the “Flying V,” the Maple Leafs can have the Human Pyramid. To make this work, they’ll need to involve whomever is in net that night. Once the puck hits twine, the Leafs head straight for their own crease. Three players get on their hands and knees, two more get on their backs, and finally the goal scorer raises up to the top of the human pyramid. The key to this celebration is to make it as tall as possible.
6. The “Human Caterpillar”
Once the goal is scored, all the skaters will need to immediately line up one behind the next and sit down on the ice. Each player wraps their legs around the player in front of them. Then, together, they use their arms to walk, like a caterpillar, back to the player’s bench.
7. The “Conductor”
When the Leafs score a goal at home, “You Make My Dreams (Come True)” by Hall and Oates begins to play throughout the arena following the goal horn. While the horn is sounding, the goal scorer heads to center ice and uses their stick as a baton. They then conduct the Maple Leafs fans as they sing along to Hall and Oates. The team has been using the same song since 2018, so fans should know the words by now.
8. The “Superhero”
This will require the help of Scotiabank Arena’s technical team. They need to rig up a harness with a cape on the back. Once the Leafs score at home, the harness is lowered and the goal scorer lies down on it. They are then flown around the arena before being carefully returned to the bench.
9. The “Robot”
The dance known as the robot was popular in the 60s. It’s time for it to make a comeback. Whomever scores breaks into a robotic dance on the ice. To really make it come to life, a teammate can wind up the goal scorer before they bust out the dance moves.
10. The “Bird Watcher”
This is an interactive celebration. The shooter must drop his stick and use his hands to mimic having binoculars. His shift-mates gather round and he points out different “birds” in the crowd. As the Leafs player points at different birds, the fan on the receiving end of the point must flap their arms to play along.
If trying any of the above celebrations yourself, just be careful. As with any celebration, there is always too much of a good thing. One of the biggest no-no’s in the hockey celebration world is taunting the opposing team’s goalie. Sure, it might be tempting to rub it in their face, but remember, they’re the ones with all the pads and the big stick. Unless you’re absolutely sure you can outskate them, it’s best to avoid it.
If you thought that true joy comes from just a goal celebration then you’ve never experienced reveling in a successful celebration. That’s right, the initial merrymaking is just the beginning. It’s what happens next that matters most, celebrating a great celebration.
This is where the Toronto Maple Leafs will need to involve their mascot Carlton the Bear. Their mascot helps things really get interesting. Carlton’s been perfecting the art of having fun since 1995.
Once Hall and Oates is done blaring through the arena and the Leafs have completed one of the previously shared celebrations, it’s time to bring out the big guns. Carlton should be at the ready in order to hoist the goal scorer on its shoulders in order for them to soak in the adoration of the crowd.
Carlton can also change out of its frequently worn number 60 jersey (representing the address of the team’s former home, Maple Leaf Gardens, located at 60 Carlton Street, in Toronto) into something more festive. That might mean adding a simple party hat or even putting on a tuxedo, depending on what the mood calls for.
Carlton can also show off some skills, namely twisting balloon animals to give the Leafs goal scorer. Everyone loves a balloon animal.
They also love a good face painting. Following a successful shift, the entire line who had a standout goal celebration, can get their faces painted on the bench. The theme for the face painting should be chosen in advance.
By the end of the night, everyone will walk away feeling like they’ve enjoyed a wonderful child’s birthday party. In fact, for good measure, the players can enjoy some cake and juice boxes on the bench too.
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Remember what you’ve learned here. Whether you’re playing in a game yourself or watching the Leafs play, you can bet that hockey’s a lot more fun with the right celebrations.