Playoff beards.
They’re a longstanding tradition throughout the hockey world that originated in the National Hockey League in the 1980s.
It’s a superstition that teams partake in while they battle throughout the playoffs in pursuit of the Stanley Cup.
In the Red Deer Rebels’ case, it’s the Ed Chynoweth Cup and maybe even the Memorial Cup.
Most leagues take part in the festivities which are based on the act of refraining from shaving until the team is either eliminated or wins the championship.
By the end of the line, the beards can be quite full or in most cases in junior hockey quite patchy and uneven.
“I think all the boys are going to take part in it for what they can,” said Rebels forward Kalan Lind.
“There’s only a select few of us who can kind of grow that out but I think some of us try to get the odd little peach fuzz. We’ll try our best.”
As to where Lind stands in the rankings among his teammates, he doesn’t believe in his beard-growing abilities.
“I think I’m more of the peach fuzz growing that greasy stuff but no I don’t grow very much facial hair at all,” he said.
“I think it’s usually tradition. You come into playoffs and it’s known you don’t really shave. All the guys should know that before the start and I think it’s reiterated by everyone to make sure [no one forgets]. It’s seen as bad luck by the hockey gods.”
Defenceman Jace Weir explained his beard may not be as full as some but it’s certainly not for a lack of trying.
Among the list of Rebels who could grow the best facial hair as named by Lind and Weir are a few veteran players such as Kai Uchacz, Craig Armstrong, Hunter Mayo, Ben King, and Jayden Grubbe. Weir added most of the Rebels coaching staff could grow some full beards as well.
“I’d love to see that,” he said.
“In the playoffs whatever league it is a lot of guys grow out their facial hair. For the guys who can grow one in junior hockey, I think it’s awesome and it should be good to see some of the playoff beards here.”
The longer the playoff rounds go the more time they’ll have and first up in the opening round is a matchup against Central Division rival Calgary Hitmen.
“We’ve played against them a lot this year only being an hour away and we know how they play… It’s going to be a good test and it should be really fun for our first round,” Weir added.
“I think last year with playing Brandon in the first round there was so much travel… so this time around it will be nice being on one-hour bus rides and it should be nice on the body. I think everyone in the room is really excited for it.”
Lind added they plan on playing their style of play against the Hitmen and hopefully come away with a few wins.
“They’re going to be a hardworking team and they’re going to do everything in their power to win. They’re going to make us grind and we’re going to make them grind.
“It’ll be a hard-fought series and it’s probably going to go seven games but we’ll see what happens.”