Origins of mocking the goalie

[Silencio]

Listening to the Bruins fans chanting "AAndersooon....AAndersooon" (mocking a goalie with more than 2 syllables in his last name just sounds awkward but whatever) got me wondering about the origins of this sacred hockey tradition. Which fan base is credited for starting it, and which goalie were they making fun of?

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[AnInjuredJasonZucker]

I’m sure it’s not the first, but Edmonton was relentless against Belfour. It wasn’t just the chant, but the whole crowd had the hands going for the hex.

 

[ryerockarola]

I'd guess fans chirping goalies with chants is as old as people going/paying to watch games.

This article about first Montreal game in 1910 has the fans chanting FAKE FAKE FAKE when the game was going to be called at 6-6. I'm sure us as humans would figure out chanting a guy's name to try to get in his head is as old as time

The first ever Montreal Canadiens game

 

[SlickHands]

My favorite was what used to be a staple at Michigan games, back when I used to go in the 90s (and I have no historical knowledge of its origins, so I can't speak to it originating there)...

But every time the opposition goalie took off his helmet for a swig of water the whole place would scream "uuuuugly gooooalie." Classic.

 

[ryerockarola]

Something something darkside

 

[snuffelapagus]

First I can recall was Flames and Blues fans towards the end of the 1986 Western Conference Finals. It's all a bit hazy, but I think Flames fans began with "Wams-ley, Wams-leeeeey" , each fan pointing both arms towards the 'tender as if to invoke some sort of jinx or spell. The the following game it was Blues fans with "Ver-non, Verrrr-non!!!". After the Flames advanced to the finals, partisans drew their ire on Patrick "Roo-ah, Roo-waaah".

 

[The Panther]

Happy memories of Oilers fans in 1987:

"Hack-stall...! Hack-stall...!"

 

[Howie Hodge]

Mocking the goalie started in 1977 of course!!

With desired results...

 

[Tarantula]

I can remember a Jr D game from the mid 70's, the entire end of the arena were yelling " Sieve, Sieve" all during a long overtime during a playoff game. Didn't do any good, he stopped everything and they scored the winner at the other end.

Taunting the goalie probably started happening as soon as there were goalies!

 

[VMBM]

I don't know anything (about anything), but one interesting feature I've noticed when watching old games is the 'mock cheering' for a shaky goalie (i.e. who has played badly) when he makes an easy save. This comes from the team's own fans (or even especially from them) too. I don't know whether this was/is particularly North American/NHL's habit. Not something to raise your goalie's spirit, eh?

 

[sr edler]

I think Hap Holmes wore a cap because fans would throw stuff at his bald head.

 

[sr edler]

I don't know anything (about anything), but one interesting feature I've noticed when watching old games is the 'mock cheering' for a shaky goalie (i.e. who has played badly) when he makes an easy save. This comes from the team's own fans (or even especially from them) too. I don't know whether this was/is particularly North American/NHL's habit. Not something to raise your goalie's spirit, eh?

Patrick Roy did a reverse mock cheering (or a sarcastic one) on himself during his last game as a Montreal Canadien (the infamous 11-1 routing against the Red Wings in 95–96).

You'll see it if you watch the highlights from the game on YT.

 

[tarheelhockey]

Joe Miller demanded to be traded away from the New York Americans because he was sick of being razzed by his own fans at MSG.

That was a key factor in Roy Worters being acquired as their franchise goalie.

 

[Pominville Knows]

No matter the position players and fans alike love doing it, goalies have the misfortune to be on the ice all game and i guess the position is viewed as being the mentally most challenging. I'm sure one of the things people like to chant and chirp with are stuff regarding the players mother and that they are supposedly overweight and that kind of deep stuff.
Back in the days it was perhaps more challenging becouse players allready had nicknames such as Shrimp Worters that they wore more proudly. On the other end they probably overreacted more often. Some went proactive like Battlin' Billy Smith.

 

[sr edler]

I feel skaters have also been targeted, historically. Opposing teams star players, preferably. Seldomly spectators mock 3rd or 4th liners, unless there's some obvious off ice stuff.

Djurgårdens IF fans used to chant homophobic slurs towards Färjestads BK star Håkan Loob. Pretty dumb/bad stuff. Supporter culture in the 80s was pretty dumb/bad.

Now football/soccer has taken over most of that/those elements because of baby ultra hooliganism and tifo culture.

 

[Pominville Knows]

I feel skaters have also been targeted, historically. Opposing teams star players, preferably. Seldomly spectators mock 3rd or 4th liners, unless there's some obvious off ice stuff.

Djurgårdens IF fans used to chant homophobic slurs towards Färjestads BK star Håkan Loob. Pretty dumb/bad stuff. Supporter culture in the 80s was pretty dumb/bad.

Now football/soccer had taken over most of that/those elements because of baby ultra hooliganism and tifo culture.

Loob ain't even gay, right?

 

[VMBM]

Loob ain't even gay, right?

Well, he's married with children. Then again, so was Leonard Bernstein.

 

[Pominville Knows]

Well, he's married with children. Then again, so was Leonard Bernstein.

Anyways, i gotta agree that he seems pretty gay.

 

[Merya]

Mocking the goalie started in 1977 of course!!
View attachment 220291

With desired results...
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You win!

 

[NyQuil]

I invented it.

 

[reckoning]

As already mentioned, booing and heckling has been around forever. I read somewhere that Pete Peeters was the first goalie to get visibly rattled from opposing fans simply chanting his name, though I'm not sure what fanbase or year it was.

As VMBM pointed out, the worst is getting the sarcastic applause from your own fans after an easy save. Mike Liut got a loud "cheer" from the crowd after a rare third period save in the 8-1 debacle in the 1981 Canada Cup.

 

[VMBM]

As VMBM pointed out, the worst is getting the sarcastic applause from your own fans after an easy save. Mike Liut got a loud "cheer" from the crowd after a rare third period save in the 8-1 debacle in the 1981 Canada Cup.

Also, Dryden got it from his own fans both in game 4 of the 1972 Summit Series (at least in that game) and in the 1975 New Year's Eve game vs CSKA Moscow. I can sort of understand this in 1981 and in 1972, since the games were more or less out of reach at that point, but it was 3-3 between the Habs and the Soviets in the 3rd period in 1975; why discourage your goalie in a situation like that?

 

[Big Phil]

As already mentioned, booing and heckling has been around forever. I read somewhere that Pete Peeters was the first goalie to get visibly rattled from opposing fans simply chanting his name, though I'm not sure what fanbase or year it was.

As VMBM pointed out, the worst is getting the sarcastic applause from your own fans after an easy save. Mike Liut got a loud "cheer" from the crowd after a rare third period save in the 8-1 debacle in the 1981 Canada Cup.

Probably the most famous case of it would be Patrick Roy getting the "Bronx cheer" in 1995........his last game as a Hab.

In Phil Esposito's book he recalls his first game as a Bruin. Milt Schmidt came into the dressing room afterwards and gave them hell for losing. He then looked over at Gerry Cheevers and said (I am paraphrasing) "What's your story?" Cheevers said to him that he felt like a q*eer. Milt got him to explain it. Cheevers said "That's what happens when 15,000 fans call you a c*ck-sucker." Apparently even Milt laughed at that tension easing statement from Cheevers. So that was 1967 and I think it was a Montreal crowd he was talking about.

Jacques Plante when asked once about how it is to be a goalie his response was: "How would you like it if every time you let in a goal a red light goes on and 20,000 boo you?"

So I am not sure if that constitutes "chanting" at the goalie so much but it just shows you that goalies have always been the target from fans. I honestly can't even think of when chanting started. It almost feels like it always has been there. Maybe it made a very fluid transition and no one noticed? I don't know.

 

[The Panther]

Patrick Roy did a reverse mock cheering (or a sarcastic one) on himself during his last game as a Montreal Canadien (the infamous 11-1 routing against the Red Wings in 95–96).

You'll see it if you watch the highlights from the game on YT.

I lost some respect for Roy that night, and honestly I've never gotten it back. I thought he was great prior to that, and, even though I like Colorado in the late-90s, I've never really liked Roy since then.

You're getting paid big bucks to play goal. So, play goal. Don't mock the fact that you're sucking. Especially in the Montreal Forum.

 

[sr edler]

Jacques Plante when asked once about how it is to be a goalie his response was: "How would you like it if every time you let in a goal a red light goes on and 20,000 boo you?"

The quote was something like "how would you like a job where everytime you make a mistake a red light goes on and 20,000 people boo you?"

On the other hand there are jobs (in construction, et cetera) where if you make a mistake you can die.