Hockey players are known for being superstitious, but hockey coaches can be too.
Last season, Barry Trotz coached the Washington Capitals to the Stanley Cup. Before every Capitals playoff game, one of Trotz’s superstitions was to tell reporters to hydrate at the beginning or ending of every press conference.
On Wednesday, the morning before the Islanders play Game One against the Penguins, Trotz brought the superstition back as he told the assembled New York and Pittsburgh media to hydrate.
Barry Trotz: “It’s getting warm out there. Remember to hydrate. … Gonna stick with that one.”
— Jason Mackey (@JMackeyPG) April 10, 2019
Little do the Islanders beat reporters know, this is only the beginning. Here are a sampling of tweets from the Caps reporters last season as Trotz continued the bit for months.
Barry Trotz ends his call the way he’s ended pretty much every media availability this postseason: “Hydrate!” pic.twitter.com/OXUAa3XVj6
— Isabelle Khurshudyan (@ikhurshudyan) June 5, 2018
“Hydrate. It’s warm out there.” — Barry Trotz’s closing remarks at his a.m. skate media availability. #Caps
— Tarik El-Bashir (@Tarik_ElBashir) May 5, 2018
Barry Trotz: “Can I give you some advice right off the bat? Hydrate. It’s hot out there.”
— Stephen Whyno (@SWhyno) May 9, 2018
Trotz’s superstition is as smooth as his Gatorade.
Barry Trotz walks into his pregame press conference, reminds us all to hydrate, comments on how hot it is, takes a swig of the Gatorade next to him and says, “Smooth, that’s real smooth.” I say again, don’t think I have ever seen a coach as relaxed as him on this stage. pic.twitter.com/qVl9rCn1ne
— Dan Rosen (@drosennhl) May 30, 2018
We put together a little video compilation of Trotz reminding reporters to monitor their fluid intake. Enjoy!
With Trotz’s superstition carrying him all the way to the Stanley Cup, it’s no wonder that he kept it–check out that water bottle in his hand as he gets, um, forcibly hydrated.
TROTZY!!!!! #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/FCHiTTLyQs
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) June 8, 2018
Telling reporters to hydrate is only one of Trotz’s many superstitions. For example, Hockey Night in Canada revealed Trotz’s superstition of not going out on the bench until 2:10 is left before the game begins.
But the real question is, will he break out the hot lap with the Islanders too?
Headline photo: EPIX
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