Thursday, October 15, 2026

Question: During the 1952 playoffs, two brothers who ran a fish market in Detroit’s Eastern Market launched an enduring Red Wings tradition by throwing what onto the ice at Olympia Stadium?

Answer: An octopus. On April 15, 1952, brothers Pete and Jerry Cusimano tossed one onto the Olympia ice, its eight tentacles standing for the eight wins then needed to win the Stanley Cup. The Red Wings went 8-0 that postseason to take the Cup, and the octopus toss has been a Red Wings tradition ever since.