The tradition of throwing octopus on the ice at Red Wings playoffs games started in 1953 -- when the Wings won eight straight playoff games with win the Stanley Cup -- and continues to this day.
In the 1980s, a Royal Oak fish market become the go-to spot for Wings fans to buy these eight-legged projectiles.
Kevin Dean owns Superior Fish with his brother David. Almost 30 years ago, they were asked to supply some octopus for a Red Wings photo shoot. They've been supplying octopus to Detroit Hockey fans ever since.
Dean says they gets dozens of orders for home playoff games, and with the final two games at Joe Louis Arena just around the corner, he says he expects calls to be pouring in over the next couple of days.
When you buy an octopus at Superior Fish for the purpose of chucking it onto the ice, they boil it for you (to get rid of slime that could stick to the ice and delay the game) and give you a plastic bag and gloves for game day.
