Athletes are notorious for having some pretty out-there superstitions, and hockey players are no exception. We've got to say that our favorite tradition is the care and keeping of playoff beards. Why? They're manly, fierce, and frankly -- just plain impressive.
The tradition seemingly started in the 1980s, when a devoted cadre of New York Islanders (Ken Morrow and Clark Gilles, among others) ditched their clean-shaven look on their hunt for the Stanley Cup. Now, the practice is seemingly ubiquitous: see the Boston Red Sox in the throes of a playoff season for a prime example.
Now that the playoffs are here, we've partnered with Coors Light to bring you a round-up of NHL men who've managed to cultivate some pretty impressive playoff scruff. Scroll through the list and check out the hockey players turned mountain men.
14) The Basic Beard: André Roy
Getty Images
André Roy's team, the Tampa Bay Lightning, took home the Stanley Cup when Roy sported this well-manicured playoff beard in 2004.
Pros: even distribution, nice color, above-average grooming
Cons: lack of imagination, and...above-average grooming
Final Score: a solid C
Pros: even distribution, nice color, above-average grooming
Cons: lack of imagination, and...above-average grooming
Final Score: a solid C
13) The #TeamEmo Beard: The Phoenix Coyotes
Getty Images
The Coyotes' 2012 line-up featured several of the Phoenix Coyotes sporting hip, patchy scruff during their journey to the Stanley Cup championship.
Pros: huge props for team effort
Cons: notable lack of aggressive, unruly growth
Score: C+
Pros: huge props for team effort
Cons: notable lack of aggressive, unruly growth
Score: C+
12) The Classic Beard: Patrick Maroon
Anaheim Ducks
2014 has seen its share of playoff beards too. This one from the Anaheim Ducks' Forward Patrick Maroon is straightforward, but robust.
Pros: the perfect beard for the well-groomed guy
Cons: not ambitious enough for a dude with some serious hair-growing potential
Score: B-
Pros: the perfect beard for the well-groomed guy
Cons: not ambitious enough for a dude with some serious hair-growing potential
Score: B-
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11) The Redbeard Beard: Raffi Torres
Vancouver Canucks
Raphael "Raffi" Torres, who played for the Vancouver Canucks at the time, grew this ruby masterpiece for the 2011 playoffs against the Boston Bruins.
Pros: striking color to scare off predators
Cons: missed growth opportunity (i.e., could be longer)
Score: B-
Pros: striking color to scare off predators
Cons: missed growth opportunity (i.e., could be longer)
Score: B-
10) The Two-Tone Beard: Jake Voráček
Philadelphia Flyers
Czech Jake Voráček of the Philadelphia Flyers has this gnarly beard in the works for his team's current run at the championship.
Pros: inexplicable blonde-black combo, impressive handlebar mustache situation
Cons: sideburns noticeably absent and/or undefined
Score: B
Pros: inexplicable blonde-black combo, impressive handlebar mustache situation
Cons: sideburns noticeably absent and/or undefined
Score: B
9) The Dapper Gentleman's Beard: Chris Higgins
Vancouver Canucks
Chris Higgins grew this impressively full beard during the 2011 playoffs. His Vancouver Canucks made it to the finals that season, but lost to the Boston Bruins four games to three.
Pros: the kind of beard that makes one stop and think, "damn, that's a manly beard."
Cons: distracting, untrimmed mustache hairs
Score: B
Pros: the kind of beard that makes one stop and think, "damn, that's a manly beard."
Cons: distracting, untrimmed mustache hairs
Score: B
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8) The Mood-Appropriate Beard: Jordie Benn
Dallas Stars
Jordie Benn of the Dallas Stars is also rocking a pretty mean beard for this year's playoffs.
Pros: excellent facial expression/facial hair harmony
Cons: none really, but we've seen better
Score: B
Pros: excellent facial expression/facial hair harmony
Cons: none really, but we've seen better
Score: B
7) The Mid-Length Beard: Ville Leino
Philadelphia Flyers
Finnish player Ville Leino grew this beard out for the 2010 playoffs with the Flyers. He currently plays for the Buffalo Sabres.
Pros: perfect juxtaposition of untamed length and well-groomed shaping
Cons: holding back a bit on the sides
Score: B
Pros: perfect juxtaposition of untamed length and well-groomed shaping
Cons: holding back a bit on the sides
Score: B
6) The Orange Extravaganza Beard: Claude Giroux
Philadelphia Flyers
This might as well be the same picture as the previous bearded Flyer, but Center Claude Giroux of the Philadelphia Flyers grew this fiery gem for the 2010 playoffs. His team advanced to the Finals that season, but were defeated by the Chicago Blackhawks.
Pros: coloring pairs perfectly with the Flyers uniform (sorry, Ville)
Cons: notable gap between mustache and chin beard
Score: B+
Pros: coloring pairs perfectly with the Flyers uniform (sorry, Ville)
Cons: notable gap between mustache and chin beard
Score: B+
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5) The Neck Beard: Daniel Winnik
Anaheim Ducks
Daniel Winnik of the Anaheim Ducks is growing out this beard for the current playoffs.
Pros: aggressive neck beard, yet still somehow real-life appropriate
Cons: perhaps a little too real-life appropriate
Score: B+
Pros: aggressive neck beard, yet still somehow real-life appropriate
Cons: perhaps a little too real-life appropriate
Score: B+
4) The Super Neck Beard: Radko Gudas
Getty Images
Here's the beard that Radko Gudas grew for this season's playoffs. His team, the Tampa Bay Lightning, was unfortunately knocked out during the first round by the Montreal Canadiens in late April.
Pros: basically sets a new standard for all of mankind's future neck beard attempts
Cons: didn't fulfill expectations
Score: B+
Pros: basically sets a new standard for all of mankind's future neck beard attempts
Cons: didn't fulfill expectations
Score: B+
3) The No-Boundaries Beard: Scott Hartnell
Continuing the Flyers' domination of the playoff beard lineup, the steely-eyed Scott Hartnell of the Philadelphia Flyers grew this wild beauty for the 2010 playoffs.
Pros: thinks outside the box (and face)
Cons: too much of a good thing?
Score: A
Pros: thinks outside the box (and face)
Cons: too much of a good thing?
Score: A
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2) The Gap-Happy Beard: Ken Daneyko
New Jersey Devils
Ken Deneyko, who spent his entire career with the New Jersey Devils, rocks a toothless grin and shaggy beard in this photo after his team won the 2003 Stanley Cup.
Pros: epic toothlessness makes this glorious masterpiece even more complete
Cons: objectively, very patchy
Score: A
Pros: epic toothlessness makes this glorious masterpiece even more complete
Cons: objectively, very patchy
Score: A
1) The Ultimate Playoff Beard: Mike Commodore
Carolina Hurricanes
Mike Commodore of the Carolina Hurricanes grew out this beard for his team's successful Stanley Cup journey. The Canes came out on top of the league in 2006.
Pros: nails the playoff beard hat trick -- loud color, unruly shape and all-over shag. Plus, the bathrobe brings the Dude aesthetic to life in a truly delightful way.
Cons: absolutely none
Score: A+
Pros: nails the playoff beard hat trick -- loud color, unruly shape and all-over shag. Plus, the bathrobe brings the Dude aesthetic to life in a truly delightful way.
Cons: absolutely none
Score: A+
Bonus: François Beauchemin's Beard Progression
Anaheim Ducks
Here's a real treat. Check out how Duck player François Beauchemin's beard has come in. It's looking pretty strong!
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