I’m sure you have heard about this mythical “Lucky Loonie”. For those who have, you are definitely missing out on some great Canadian facts and lore! Well, I’m gonna go to my trusty encyclopaedia of lore, Wikipedia and give you the lowdown on this “Lucky Loonie”

Well, this all started back back in the old times of 2002. It was the Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, when the ice maker hid a Canadian loonie under centre ice. Well, what happened? Canada Men’s and Women’s Hockey Teams won GOLD! It was used to help the referees drop the puck on the centre of the face off circle (really?), but “The Great One”, Wayne Gretzky was able to recover this loonie and it now sits in the Canadian Hockey Hall of Fame! That is how the “Lucky Loonie” started.

Now, this has taken on many more forms.

In 2003, at the IIHF World Hockey Chapionships, between Canada and Sweden, Canada won GOLD!

In 2006, at the Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy, at the curling rink, the ice maker there hid 2 loonies under the ends, and Brad Gushue and his team won GOLD!

This has also been used this against us. At the 2008 IIHF World Championships, Team Russia (Alexander Ovechkin) buried a “(un)Lucky Loonie” at the centre of the ice. When Russia beat Canada, 5-4 in overtime, Soviet Comrade Ovechkin dug it out.

I have even taken up this wise tail and always travel with a “Lucky Loonie” of my own. Right now it sits atop my passport. It was stamped 1987, the first year of the Loonie.

Well, I haven’t been able to see/hear anything if a “Lucky Loonie” has been placed at GM Place (Canada Hockey Place), but if it has been (or will be) I’ll be sure it gets posted here!

Encyclopedia of Lore Reference: Wikipedia.com

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