The Rat Trick: The Legend of the Florida Panthers’ Rodent Tradition (ENCORE)

ESPN Daily

ESPN

Sports

4.6 • 3.9K Ratings

🗓️ 1 February 2023

⏱️ 38 minutes

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Summary

The NHL All-Star Weekend hits South Florida this weekend, but there’s one notable snub. Viktor E. Rat, the hometown Florida Panthers’ alternate mascot, will not be appearing and the fans are UPSET. Because Viktor E. Rat represents more than a costume…he is the personification of one of the most unusual traditions in all of sports: throwing rats onto the ice. It’s a hair-raising tradition that dates back to the ‘95-’96 season, when a Cinderella-esque Panthers team made the Stanley Cup Final in just their third year of existence. Emily Kaplan explains how the Panthers’ rat throwing tradition started, if it may or may not have contributed to the team’s long misfortunes…and the ways in which this generation’s Panthers are trying to write their own tale. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	So, one of the best All-Star traditions in all sports is something the NHL does, called
0:09.8	the mascot showcase.
0:11.2	It's the event where the very weirdly costume representatives from every franchise all compete
0:18.2	against each other and everything from dodgeball to a dance-off to even actual ice hockey.
0:25.5	But this weekend, even though the NHL All-Star game is being hosted by Sunrise Florida.
0:32.4	The Sun has set, apparently, on the local creature that most deserves an invitation.
0:40.4	Because yes, Victor E. Rat, the alternate mascot of the host Florida Panthers, has been
0:48.2	snubbed from the showcase.
0:50.5	He will have no opportunity to outgrip gritty, as this entire story now gnaws at us.
0:58.1	You see, Victor E. Rat is more than just a costume, okay?
1:03.3	He is the personification, the living embodiment of one of the most hair-raising rituals in
1:08.1	American culture in general, one that Emily Kaplan explained to us once before.
1:14.0	And so it is only just that we bring it back for you today.
1:20.4	I'm Pablo Torre.
1:21.7	It's Wednesday, February 1st.
1:25.0	And this is ESPN, Diggly.
1:27.0	Emily Kaplan, do you have a hockey nickname?
1:34.8	What do they call you?
1:35.8	So, Pablo, if you're going to go up the formula, I guess I'd be capper.
1:39.1	I've heard that at the rank before.
1:41.2	Capsi, that could be it as well.
1:44.0	Yeah, yeah, yeah.
	...

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