No Octopus For You: Local Fish Market Bans Detroit Fans

Detroit Red Wings fans have a tradition of throwing an octopus onto the ice rink surface for good luck during the playoffs.

Last year, when the Pens played the Red Wings in the Stanley Cup final, area fish markets banned the sale of octopi for this reason. This year will be no different at Benkovitz Seafoods.

VIDEO: Benkovitz Says 'No Octopus' For Wings Fans

A sign outside the door to the store tells Detroit fans that they are not welcome.

“They might bring a stinky squid in their car from Detroit, but not from my store here,” said Horatio Ruiz of Benkovitz Seafoods. “This is for us, and for the Pittsburgh fans only.”

Ruiz said he will be checking ID when he sells his octopi. If the buyer is from the Detroit area, he or she will not be able to buy octopi from him.

The “legend of the octopus” tradition started back in 1952. The eight legs of the octopus signified the eight wins that it took back then to win the Stanley Cup championship.

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