What is a Hat Trick in Hockey? Origin and Types
Scoring one goal in hockey is hard enough, so scoring three goals in one game deserves to be celebrated.
If you’re new to the sport of hockey, you may wonder why fans throw hats (and sometimes other objects) onto the ice when someone nets a hat trick — or when a player scores three goals in one game.
There are other types of hat tricks as well, which we’ll get into more in this article. A hat trick in the simplest form, however, requires a player to score three goals at some point and in some fashion in a single game; some of the other hat tricks are a bit more complicated.
This article is your complete guide to understanding hat tricks, from their origins, to the different types in hockey and the players with the most hat tricks in NHL history. You can also read on to get advice on how hat tricks can influence your fantasy hockey strategy.
What is a Hat Trick in Hockey?
As we’ve established, a hat trick is when a player scores three goals in a single game. It is celebrated by the home team’s — and occasionally the road team’s — fans. Once a player scores that all-important third goal, hats typically come raining down from the stands. This usually leads to a stoppage in play, as the ice crew must clear the playing surface of any and all hats on the ice before the game can be resumed.
Why is it Called a Hat Trick?
A hat trick is not a term unique to hockey. It is used in other sports as well, namely cricket and soccer.
While hockey and soccer hat tricks celebrate scoring three goals, the term is believed to have originated in cricket. In 1858, the term hat trick was used to describe H.H. Stephenson taking three wickets with three consecutive deliveries.
Fans didn’t throw their hats onto the playing surface for Stephenson, though. Instead, they held a collection for the bowler and bought him a hat with the proceeds.
In hockey, fans are believed to have started throwing hats onto the ice from the stands in the 1950s, but gimmicks took hold even before that — though there are conflicting stories about who claims the fame.
According to the Hockey Hall of Fame, Sammy Taft, a Toronto businessman, offered a hat to any player who scored three goals during an NHL game in Toronto. It is said that Chicago forward Alex Kaleta, who tried on a fedora at Taft’s store but could not afford it, was told he could have it if he scored three goals against the Maple Leafs that night in 1946. He did, and he was rewarded accordingly.
Another tale goes as follows: In 1947, the Biltmore Hat Company in Guelph, Ontario, awarded any player on the Guelph Biltmore Mad Hatters (a junior team) who recorded a hat trick a new Biltmore fedora after the game. Such is the magic of hockey lore that multiple similar stories have circulated trying to lay claim to the legend of the hat trick.
Regardless, the first recorded hat trick in the NHL came on the first night in league history, Dec. 19, 1917. Harry Hyland, playing for the Montreal Wanderers, scored five goals in a 10-9 win over the Toronto Arenas.
Types of Hat Tricks in Hockey
Natural Hat Trick
A natural hat trick is perhaps the most difficult hat trick to achieve. This occurs when a single player scores three consecutive goals with no other player, from either team, scoring in between.
It may seem like a near-impossible feat, but the Chicago Black Hawks’ Bill Mosienko recorded the fastest natural hat trick in NHL history in just 21 seconds in 1952.
Texas Hat Trick
Scoring three goals in one game is impressive enough, but a player scoring four goals in a game is called a Texas Hat Trick.
Mario Lemieux and Wayne Gretzky are tied for the most Texas Hat Tricks in NHL history with 13 each.
Double Hat Trick
To take it a step (or two) further, a Double Hat Trick is exceptionally rare. It’s when a player scores six goals in a single game.
There have only been eight Double Hat Tricks in NHL history, most recently with Toronto Maple Leafs forward Darryl Sittler scoring six goals (plus four assists!) against the Boston Bruins in 1976.
Joe Malone is the only player in NHL history with two Double Hat Tricks, both coming in 1920.
Gordie Howe Hat Trick
A Gordie Howe Hat Trick is probably the most well-known variation of the hat trick — though this one does not involve scoring three goals.
Named after hockey legend and Detroit Red Wings great Gordie Howe, this hat trick variation is when a player records a goal, an assist and a fighting major in a single game.
Despite Howe only recording two such “hat tricks” in his career, he is associated with the gritty play required to check all three boxes.
Rick Tocchet embodied that spirit, and his 18 Gordie Howe Hat Tricks are the most in NHL history.
Who Has the Most Hat Tricks in NHL History?
1. Wayne Gretzky
The Great One holds a ton of NHL scoring records, and this one is no different.
Gretzky recorded 50 hat tricks across his 20 seasons, reaching the double-digit mark in both the 1981-82 and 1983-84 seasons with the Edmonton Oilers. In fact, Gretzky had four games with four goals or more in both of those campaigns.
2. Mario Lemieux
Lemieux finished 10 shy of Gretzky, with 40 career hat tricks. The Pittsburgh Penguins legend’s best season in that category came in 1988-89, when he had nine hat tricks, including two games with four or more goals.
3. Mike Bossy
Mike Bossy was right behind Lemieux with 39 hat tricks – impressively doing so in just 10 NHL seasons. The New York Islanders forward recorded nine hat tricks, including three four-goal games, in the 1980-81 season.
4. Brett Hull
Hull hit for a hat trick in a game 33 times to place him fourth on the all-time hat tricks list. His peak came in the 1991-92 season with the St. Louis Blues, recording eight hat tricks that year.
5. Phil Esposito
The former Chicago, Boston and New York Rangers star rounds out the top five with 32 hat tricks in his 18 seasons. The bulk came during his time in Boston. He netted seven in the 1970-71 season and four apiece in ‘71-72, ‘72-73 and ‘74-75.
Hat Tricks for Fantasy Hockey
Goals are an important stat for fantasy hockey, so it’s no surprise that hat tricks are quite useful. Players’ ability to score three goals in a game shows that they have a knack for scoring in bunches, which can make or break your fantasy hockey matchup.
Keep an eye out for players with a lot of goals, and a lot of hat tricks, when managing your fantasy hockey team. The active leaders, entering the 2024-25 season, are Washington Capitals great Alexander Ovechkin (30) and Boston Bruins star David Pastrnak (17). Superstars Auston Matthews (13) and Connor McDavid (12) are sure to be on your radar as well.
See also: Positions in Hockey Explained
Frequently Asked Questions
How rare is a hat trick in hockey?
A hat trick isn’t all that common on a regular hockey night across the NHL. There were just 115 hat tricks in the 1,312 games played in the 2023-24 NHL season, up from the 96 hat tricks in the 2022-23 season.
What is the fastest hat trick in NHL history?
Mosienko’s scoring three goals in just 21 seconds for Chicago in a game against the Rangers on March 23, 1952, feels like a record that will never be topped.
Who is the youngest player to get a hat trick in NHL history?
Pittsburgh Penguins forward Jordan Staal was the youngest player in NHL history to record a hat trick. He was just 18 years and 153 days old when he scored three goals against the Toronto Maple Leafs on February 10, 2007.
Hats All, Folks
You should now know all about hat tricks in hockey, including the origin, records, and variations throughout history. For more around the NHL, Sleeper is the best DFS and fantasy sports platform for finding detailed information on fantasy hockey and developing better strategies to win your league.
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