Every team has its unique traditions and fan participation aspects that make each NHL arena special. It’s what makes attending games cool for fans of their respective teams and hockey fans at large who can be part of a crowd or an interesting atmosphere. The question for fans visiting arenas for the first time is how they can be prepared.
Related: The Top 5 Greatest Hockey Traditions
What should they know to avoid being caught off guard and more importantly, fit in? With this in mind, we provided a guide for 31 of the 32 teams around the NHL (sorry Utah, you need to establish some hockey tradition first), from goal songs to chants and everything in between. So, let’s right dive in.
Anaheim Ducks – Sweetness
The Anaheim Ducks play a victory song that many hockey fans will know from video games back in the day. It isn’t heard often these days, but when this team wins a game, “Sweetness” by Jimmy Eat World can be heard in the arena. It’s only been their victory song since the start of the 2021-22 season, so one might say that like the Ducks, the tradition is in a rebuild and starting from the ground up.
Boston Bruins – Boston-Themed Songs
Boston loves its sports teams and songs about the city, and the Bruins are no exception. Expect the song “I’m Shipping Up To Boston” by Dropkick Murphys to be played at some point during the game. It is particularly played to get the crowd into the game often after a big fight or in the third period. While the song was popularized in 2007 with Boston Red Sox closer Jonathan Papelbon using it as his entrance song, it has since become one of the anthems for Boston.
While that song is the new anthem for Boston and is played regularly during Bruins’ games, “Dirty Water” by The Standbells is the song of the city. Released in 1966, it became a regular after victories starting in the late 1990s and has been a staple ever since. When the Bruins win, they play the song and it’s a great way to close out the night as fans walk to the exits.
Buffalo Sabres – Hope & Pray
The only tradition that Buffalo Sabres fans provided is that they pray. They pray for a playoff berth and hope that the decade-plus of darkness ends soon. Otherwise, there isn’t much tradition or atmosphere at KeyBank Center and the arena is often empty or filled with opposing fans. It’s been a rough stretch for the Sabres.
Calgary Flames – C of Red
For Calgary Flames games, it’s straightforward. Wear red. On game nights, Scotiabank Saddledome is decked out in a “C of Red” including the jerseys, the seats, and the fans, making for one of the best home atmospheres in the league and home-ice advantages as well. Fans who don’t wear the Flames colors stand out like a duck out of the water and can often be assumed as rooting for the opposition.
Carolina Hurricanes – Storm Surge
One of the most exciting recent traditions has been the Storm Surge. The Carolina Hurricanes started the victory celebration in the 2018-19 season with captain Justin Williams leading the tradition, and it was fueled by the backlash it received from traditional old-school hockey minds. Don Cherry, a former commentator for Hockey Night in Canada, called the team “A bunch of jerks” for the antic, along with the fun approach the players had, but the team kept the chant as a good luck charm in a successful season. The Hurricanes not only pulled off a first-round upset against the Washington Capitals but also reached the Eastern Conference Final the year they adopted the chant, a sign that it was here to stay.
The origins of the Storm Surge go back to Iceland, where the fans of the national soccer team use a “Skol” chant with a similar clapping motion. It was adopted by the Minnesota Vikings, who like the Hurricanes, also had a successful year, reaching the NFC Championship Game in the 2017 season. The Hurricanes looked like they were going to end the Storm Surge after the 2018-19 season, especially after Williams announced its end. However, the Storm Surge has since returned and become a special part of victories at PNC Arena.
The Hurricanes are also one of the teams that have a surplus of fan traditions along with the surge. They have a siren that is sounded before every period. They play “Rock You Like A Hurricane” by Scorpions as their walkout song. Even when the franchise was in Hartford back in the day, they had the “Brass Bonanza” played after every Whalers goal. So, along with the team having success in recent seasons, it’s sure to be a fun time in Raleigh, North Carolina.
Chicago Blackhawks – National Anthem Singer
A lot of teams have a designated singer for the national anthem. However, there is none better than the famous Jim Cornelison, who with his booming voice, will leave any fan in awe. He has been a part of many famous moments in the Chicago Blackhawks’ recent history, singing the anthem during the three Stanley Cup title runs during the 2010s. Even with Cornelison’s name being tied to national anthems and the famous “Back Home Again in Indiana” song, which is sung before the Indy500, he still goes hand-in-hand with the Blackhawks.
The Blackhawks are also famous for their goal song “Chelsea Dagger” by The Fratellis. However, considering they are one of the worst teams in the NHL, there’s no guarantee that it will be played, although Connor Bedard might have something to say about that. The national anthem is a sure bet, and with Cornelison, it’s an entertaining experience before the game even starts.
Colorado Avalanche – Playoff Pom Poms
The Colorado Avalanche had one of the best traditions in recent history. The fans sing a karaoke version of “All The Small Things” by Blink-182 at some point during the game. It’s a song that’s tied closely to a certain generation and a bygone era, but it became a big deal for the fans as the team powered through the playoffs.
Unfortunately, they retired the tradition after the 2021-22 season. The song is now forever linked to the 2022 title team, which is a shame considering the Avalanche don’t have a lot of traditions otherwise. The other one that fans can appreciate also only comes up in the playoffs and it’s the pom poms. The team provides fans with pom poms before every playoff game, which makes for an electric atmosphere.
Columbus Blue Jackets – Fire The Cannon!
Watch out for that cannon! When the Columbus Blue Jackets score, they fire a cannon that is meant to replicate the sound of the Civil War blasts. It’s loud, scary, and hard to prepare for, and it sends spectators, announcers, and even players into shock. Johnny Gaudreau, who was frightened by it as an opponent, had to acclimate himself after signing a seven-year deal with the team in the 2022 offseason. The cannon is a part of the experience in Columbus and fans have to prepare accordingly to avoid the shock of it. Just remember, as soon as the Blue Jackets score, cover your ears.
Dallas Stars – Team Goal Song
The Dallas Stars have one of the most iconic goal songs in the NHL since it is the official team fight song. “Puck Off” was composed by the rock band Pantera, who were also superfans of the team, and it was popularized during their Stanley Cup run in 1999. When they score, they play it and the fans chant the only two words “Dallas” and “Stars” in unison, making for one of the coolest atmospheres in the league after a goal.
Along with the goal song, which also happens to be their victory song, the Stars have one of the best karaoke song experiences. They play the country classic “Friends in Low Places” by Garth Brooks and everyone in the arena gets into it. The Stars are in the heart of Texas and this song does the city and the region at-large justice.
Detroit Red Wings – Don’t Stop Believin’
There’s a long-standing history of the octopus. It’s a tradition that goes back to the early days of Detroit Red Wing greatness and has been an integral part of the on-ice antics since, both at the home arena and on the road. To understand more of the history, Evan Sabourin, one of the writers at THW, wrote about his tossing of the sea creature. That said, most fans are unlikely to witness the octopus if they are at Little Caesars Arena on a given night.
The next best thing is the victory song, which considering how the Red Wings look these days, is bound to happen more often than not. Their song is “Don’t Stop Believin'” by Journey and it’s played whenever they win. Just remember to shout the verse “Born and raised in SOUTH DETROIT!” when it’s played (ironically, Detroit’s southern border is Canada so that city boy might have been Canadian after all).
Edmonton Oilers – La Bamba
When the Edmonton Oilers win, they play “La Bamba” by Ritchie Valens. It’s not a typical victory song, but there’s a great story behind it and why the Oilers play it after every victory. Joey Moss, the long-time locker room attendant and superfan, loved the song, and it was his favorite to play both in the locker and at parties. When he passed away in 2020, the team made it their official song, and it’s one the hockey world at large got used to when they came one win short of winning the Stanley Cup title.
It’s not the only way the Oilers honored Moss. During the playoff run, fans gathered outside the arena to watch the team on giant screens in the ice district. The place was overcrowded with fans the way a “Mosh Pit” at a concert would be. So, the Oilers creatively named the area the “Moss Pit” where the fans would go wild after every goal.
Florida Panthers – Rats
When it comes to the playoffs, the Florida Panthers might have the best tradition in recent memory. Considering they reached the Final in 2023 and won the Stanley Cup title in 2024, fans are familiar with the rats. The fans throw toy rats on the ice when they win and litter the surface with them. The history of the rat tossing dates back to their surprise playoff run in 1996 and while the team didn’t experience much playoff success in the following years, the tradition came back to life with the team’s resurgence.
Los Angeles Kings – South Park
Matt Stone and Trey Parker, the creators of the popular animated comedy show South Park, are big fans of the Los Angeles Kings. So, they created a video for the team to play before the game, and as you might have guessed, it’s got some dark humor to it. Eric Cartman will appear on the big screen and lead a “Go Kings Go” chant and then he’ll do something to attack the opposing team. For example, Kenny, a character from the show who tends to die in many episodes, will be wearing the opposing team’s jersey and then Cartman calls for the Zamboni driver to run him over. It’s sure to get a good laugh before the puck drops.
Minnesota Wild – Let’s! Play! Hockey!
The Minnesota Wild play in the State of Hockey and have a plethora of traditions that the fans have adopted. However, arguably the most iconic is the “Let’s! Play! Hockey!” chant before the puck drop of each game at Xcel Energy Center. It has been led by kids, lifelong fans, celebrities, and former players with the entire arena joining in. Wild fans are passionate about hockey and the “Let’s! Play! Hockey!” will get anyone hyped up for the game that follows. The chant is so popular that it’s spilled over to the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) with the Minnesota team shouting it before every game of a championship-caliber season.
Montreal Canadiens – Ole! Ole! Ole!
Montreal is known as the Mecca of hockey and the Canadiens are the league’s most historic franchise, playing in the city since 1917 and winning 24 Stanley Cup titles. For fan traditions, the one that stands out is the “Ole” chant, which is typically known as a soccer chant and originated in Spain in the 1980s but has become a common one for Canadiens fans as well. They will often chant it during a successful game where the team looks poised to win. When Artturi Lehkonen scored the game-winning goal in Game 6 of the 2021 Eastern Conference Final to send the Canadiens to the Stanley Cup Final, the crowd serenaded them with the “Ole” chants during the closing handshakes. It’s one that goes hand-in-hand with the team and the city and when attending a game at the Bell Centre, joining in is a given.
Nashville Predators – Music City Fun
It’s a party anytime the Nashville Predators are hosting a game. During the national anthem, instead of saying the first line “Oh say can you see” the fans will sing “Oh say can Juuse” a play on words for Predators goaltender Juuse Saros. They invite country singers to sing the anthem often, especially during the playoffs. Occasionally, a catfish will be thrown on the ice. Then there’s the goal song, which is Tim McGraw’s “I Like It, I Love It,” and it has become iconic. The bottom line is that visiting fans will have no shortage of entertainment when they head to a game in the Music City.
New Jersey Devils – Hells Bells
The New Jersey Devils used to have a goal chant that for better or worse, was one of the most well-known in the league. The fans would point to the opposing team goaltender and chant “Hey! You Suck!” and the song didn’t do any favors to stop it. They changed the song in recent seasons and aside from a few long-time fans, the chants are in the past. Aside from the chant, the Devils appropriately play “Hells Bells” by AC/DC as their walkout music. Sure, there are a few devil-themed songs to choose from and the heavy metal bands provide a helping hand with that genre of music, but Hells Bells is probably the best one to choose from. If it doesn’t have fans hyped up before the game, nothing will.
New York Islanders – Yes! Yes! Yes!
After a goal is scored, the fans chant “Yes! Yes! Yes!” after the goal song concludes and the puck is dropped to resume action. What originally started as a World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) chant with Daniel Bryan has recently become a celebration after the New York Islanders score. It has become such a staple of the Islanders that the team gave shirts to the fans during recent playoff runs with the chant written on them. Once a goal is scored, the key is to shout “Yes!” as loud and as many times as possible along with the crowd at UBS Arena.
New York Rangers – Baba O’Reilly & National Anthem
One of the most exciting entrances in hockey is the one the New York Rangers have in the playoffs. They play “Baba O’Reilly” by The Who as the team is introduced at Madison Square Garden, making it one of the more exciting walkouts. Now, many fans can’t afford Rangers tickets in general much less a playoff game, so for fans making it to a regular season game, the next best thing is the national anthem singer. John Brancy is one of the best with a powerful operatic voice and his energy gets games started in a style suited for games in New York.
Ottawa Senators – Misery
Like the Sabres, the Ottawa Senators lack a unique tradition and for the same reasons. The team hasn’t been competitive in a while with their last playoff appearances coming in 2017. On top of that, the team doesn’t have a long-storied history in the NHL and hasn’t provided the best fan experience. The hope is that with a new ownership group, a new arena, and a good team on the ice, some traditions will follow.
Philadelphia Flyers – Wherever I May Roam
A lot of sports fans know about “Enter Sandman” by Metallica. It’s a popular entrance song that is used by a lot of teams and notably, Hall of Fame pitcher Mariano Rivera. However, the Philadelphia Flyers have another Metallica song as their go-to: “Wherever I May Roam.” It’s a hype song that gets the job done as the fans get ready for the Flyers to take the ice. It’s a stark contrast from their victory song, which is “The Orange and The Black” by The Broils, to say the least.
Pittsburgh Penguins – Lets! Go! Pens! Horn
It can get annoying, so brace yourself for the “Lets! Go! Pens!” horn. It sounds like one of those airhorns and it’s blasted throughout the game and the fans chant shortly after the horn is sounded. The Pittsburgh Penguins are in one of the best sports towns in the country and the Steelers, the NFL team in the area, are most known for playing “Renegade” by Styx during the game, making it a bit of a surprise they don’t have more traditions.
San Jose Sharks – Giant Shark Head
The San Jose Sharks have fallen on hard times, as they haven’t made the playoffs since 2019. However, their player introductions remain one of the best in the NHL. They lower a giant shark head from the ceiling and the players skate under it and onto the ice. It’s something that all fans can sit back and appreciate ahead of the game, making attending a Sharks game, even as they continue to struggle, a worthwhile experience.
They also have a fun set of things when the team heads to the power play. The Sharks fans “chomp” with a distinct clapping motion and they play the Jaws theme song, orchestrated by John Williams, which honestly, is spot on for the team. Now, all they need are some goals to repay the fans for all that chomping.
Seattle Kraken – Fan Fish Toss
The NHL’s newest franchise, the Seattle Kraken have been in the league since 2021 and don’t have any historic traditions. However, they have found a way to make a mark with multiple unique antics that keep the fans engaged and also make attending games a fun experience. The biggest one is the fish toss where one of the three stars of the game tosses a stuffed salmon into the stands.
Seattle is known for its fish market, Pikes Place, and is particularly known for workers tossing fish. The Kraken have embraced the city-based tradition and has given fans something to look forward to when games conclude. Unfortunately, for
St. Louis Blues – Towel Man
The St. Louis Blues were one of the few teams to have a great karaoke version of “Country Roads” by John Denver. The song was synonymous with the Cup run in 2019, which was the team’s first title in franchise history. It’s still a fan favorite and has done better than most crowds (although the best version is the one the West Virginia Mountaineers do; it’s hard to top them) but not the same as it was during the 2018-19 season.
The tradition that has been around longer and is still going strong involves Towel Man. He’s the ultimate Blues fan and has been energizing the crowd for over 30 years. Once he starts waving the towel, the rest of the fans follow suit, so it would be advised for visiting fans to join in on the fun as well.
Tampa Bay Lightning – Telsa Bolts
The Tampa Bay Lightning have a tradition that lives up to their team name. They shoot out Tesla coils before the game begins. For those who are unfamiliar with what those are and thought they were a type of car (like myself), these coils are hanging from the ceiling of the arena and they shoot bolts of lightning and strikes for the fans to see and watch without fear of being shocked. It’s like when teams have fireworks before a game begins, but it’s better since fans don’t have to watch the first period through a pillar of smoke.
Toronto Maple Leafs – Giant Anthem Flags
The best team tradition the Toronto Maple Leafs have is coming up short in the playoffs, which they’ve been doing since 1967. For the fans, they used to have a goal song that everyone either loved or hated; it was so bad, it was good. It was the Hall & Oates song, “You Make My Dreams Come True,” and it was one that for better or worse was associated with the team. The Maple Leafs abandoned the song last season, so for visiting fans, the next best thing is the two flags during the anthem. When they sing “Oh Canada,” the fans move a giant Canadian and a Maple Leaf flag throughout the crowd.
Vancouver Canucks – Playoff Towels
For those who like music from the 1980s, the Vancouver Canucks goal song is perfect. They play “Don’t You Forget About Me” by Simple Minds (the end part, that is), which oddly enough, works well with the fans. However, the best tradition comes in the playoffs.
The Canucks provide white towels and the fans won’t stop waving them until the final whistle (and if they win, fans might be waving them well after the game ends). The tradition goes back to the 1980s and the combination of the blue jerseys the fans wear and the white towels they wave make for one of the best playoff atmospheres in the league.
Vegas Golden Knights – Just Sit Back & Enjoy
Las Vegas is known as the city for entertainment and Vegas Golden Knights games have become a part of the exciting scene in the city. From the pregame shows that were popularized during the 2018 playoff run to the team playing “Viva Las Vegas” by Elvis Presley after the Golden Knights win, games at T-Mobile Arena are more than just hockey but a show. The best advice for a fan attending a game is to sit back and take it all in.
Washington Capitals – It’s All Your Fault
The Washington Capitals have a few minor chants and traditions that make attending a game more entertaining than expected. From the classics to the “Who Cares” after the goal is announced by the public address announcer for the opposition. They are one of the few teams that have a great goal chant. When they score, the fans point to the opposing goaltender and chant “It’s all your fault,” which frankly, is the cleaner version of what the Devils used to do.
Winnipeg Jets – True North
The Canadian national anthem, “Oh Canada,” is already unique to the NHL as it’s played more often than any of the other major sports. With seven teams in Canada in the NHL, compared to the one team in both the NBA and MLB and none in the NFL, it is sung more often. However, Winnipeg Jets fans take it to a new level, yelling “True North!” in the middle.
When Winnipeg was granted a team in 2011, the franchise relocated from Atlanta and was purchased by True North Sports and Entertainment. An article in the Winnipeg Free Press discussed how the “True North” shoutout started in part as a way to show gratitude to the company and ownership group for bringing a team back to the city (from ‘Here’s the true story of the True North Shout-Out’, Winnipeg Free Press, 12/17/11). The tradition stuck and is one of the unique shoutouts for any anthem in sports and something that can catch a casual fan off guard if they aren’t anticipating it. For those who aren’t affluent in “Oh Canada,” the part where Jets fans yell “True North!” is after the line “With glowing hearts we see thee rise,” so be prepared.
Other Notes for Traveling NHL Fans
Fans of hockey can often feel like outsiders when they are visiting a new arena for the first time, which can be intimidating. However, most fanbases, even the passionate ones, will greet people with open arms if they are willing to learn. Along with fitting in, the best advice is to explain that it is the first time visiting and express the willingness to learn. Most people will become good tour guides to the new environment and possible friends for years to come.
Is there a tradition that stands out to you? Let us know in the comments section below!
