Las Vegas Sun

March 29, 2024

What the Golden Knights have planned for hats thrown onto ice

Marchessault’s hat trick the third in franchise history at T-Mobile Arena

Knights vs Penguins

Wade Vandervort

Hats dot the ice after a Jonathan Marchessault hat trick in a Golden Knights win over Pittsburgh at T-Mobile Arena Saturday, Jan. 19, 2019.

Hats flew from the stands as Jonathan Marchessault’s third goal for the Golden Knights against Pittsburgh went into the net Saturday night at T-Mobile Arena, as is hockey custom when a player completes a so-called hat trick.

The next question: What to do with all those hats?

The answer varies from team to team — everything from throwing them away to allowing the fans to pick them up at a makeshift lost and found.

In Las Vegas, the Golden Knights plan to create some sort of a display at the City National Arena practice facility, although details are short.

The team has amassed a growing collection of caps, with Saturday marking the third hat trick at T-Mobile.

The caps scooped off the ice last season after two William Karlsson hat tricks are also being stored at the arena.

Putting the hats on display is not unique.

The Washington Capitals have a hat-trick display in the concourse of their home rink, Capital One Arena. And the Blue Jackets have a similar setup in Columbus.

Other teams, for hygiene reasons, throw the hats away, according to Fox Sports. Some franchises offer discounts in the team store for fans in attendance to purchase new hats.

Marchessault said he didn’t know what might become of the hats. But, he said, “It is fun when people throw it out there.”