What is a Hat Trick in Hockey?
A hat trick in hockey is when a player scores three goals in a game. The term "hat trick" is often used in sports to refer to a player achieving three of something during a single competition, such as three goals in one soccer game, three hits in a baseball game or three touchdowns in an American football game. Many sports historians believe that the term originated from cricket during the late 1800s, but it is now most commonly used in hockey and soccer. In ice hockey, many fans will salute a player who accomplishes a hat trick by throwing their hats onto the ice. A Rare Accomplishment The main priority in hockey is to score goals, because the team that scores the most goals wins the game. A goal is awarded when the puck goes into the opponent's goal, usually after being shot by a player on the scoring team. Relatively few goals are scored in most hockey games, with teams often finishing a game with two goals or less, which is why it is considered a signifi...