Hockey Things: What Caught Our Eye (Feb. 6)

Mascots caused a delay at the NHL All-Star Game, a rink in Saskatchewan went viral, and the Quad City Storm arrived at a game with their opponents missing.

February has arrived, and its first week (along with the end of January) gave us a few fun stories to chat about from all over the hockey world.

NHL Mascots Have Too Much Fun in Florida

One of the best parts of the NHL All-Star weekend is the amount of fun had by every mascot in the league. It is easily the biggest celebration of the NHL's mascots, and sometimes, they have a little too much fun.

During Saturday's All-Star Game, this confetti celebration ended up causing a delay in the semifinal action between the Metropolitan Division and Atlantic Division. There was so much confetti that it rained onto the ice for a couple of minutes .

No matter the game or the situation, mascots will find a way to have fun.

Saskatchewan Has One of the More Unique Rinks in Hockey

There's a very good chance by now you've come across the footage of a hockey rink in the Saskatchewan village of Lang that made headlines. The Lang Rink, built in the late 1920s, has elements that truly make it stand out.

The most eye-catching element is the steps that come down from the dressing rooms, requiring players in full gear to walk down to the playing surface.

Another element of the rink from a long-gone era? The hand-pushed ice resurfacer.

You'd probably be hard-pressed to find a ton of rinks in 2023 similar to Lang's, but its classic elements are charming in their own way.

Dude, Where's Our Opponent?

No matter the level of professional hockey, a forfeit win in the game's modern era will draw attention. In the SPHL this past weekend, that happened when the Quad City Storm travelled to face the Vermilion County Bobcats.

The Storm arrived and found no one to play. The team and the officials went through all of the normal pregame routines as the only team on the ice. The footage shows how weird the situation was with an empty bench beside Storm players and staff.

You'll never turn down taking two points, but in a manner like this? It is something that Storm players might never face again. Although there wasn't a game to watch, the fans in attendance could still participate in the planned post-game skate with the players as the away team stayed out afterward.