The tradition of the octupus on the ice started in Detroit in the '50s
when it took 8 games to win the Stanley Cup.  A couple of fish market owners
brought an octopus to the rink and either before the games or after Detroit
scored a goal, they would throw it on the ice, minus the number of arms equal
to the number of games that the Wings had won in their quest for the cup, and
the tradition has stuck.  Now, the fans cheer the guy who cleans it up, but only
if he picks it up with his bare hands -- if he uses a shovel, he gets booed.
 
(Oops, too many 'enters' there....)  Tonight, though, I noticed that the guy
used a towel, and the fans still cheered.  Too bad the Wings still lost! :-(
Anyway, that is the basic story -- it started with the Wings, but I've noticed
lots of other fans doing it too....  I guess the lobster was a crack at
originality.  Is there a different story behind that, perhaps?
 
[DISCLAIMER:  Portions of this post are a paraphrase of some info found on rec.
sport.hockey, but I did know some of the tradition.  Sorry, I just finished a
BIG term paper, and I'm still stuck in cite-all-your-facts mode!!!! :-)]
 
Scott
Great season, Red Wings!  Get 'em next year!  Someone PLEASE beat Pittsburg!
Russia for gold in the WC!  Sorry about all the random cheers!