In 1995, former NHL all-star, Scott Mellanby unexpectedly ended up face-to-face with a rat in the Florida Panthers locker room. What happened next led to one of the strangest Stanley Cup runs in NHL history and a tradition that’s lasted for decades since. Here’s Emily Kaplan to tell you the story of “The Year of the Rat.”
✔️ Subscribe to ESPN+ https://plus.espn.com/
✔️ Get the ESPN App: http://www.espn.com/espn/apps/espn
✔️ Subscribe to ESPN on YouTube: http://es.pn/SUBSCRIBEtoYOUTUBE
✔️Subscribe to ESPN FC on YouTube: http://bit.ly/SUBSCRIBEtoESPNFC
✔️Subscribe to NBA on ESPN on YouTube: http://bit.ly/SUBSCRIBEtoNBAonESPN
✔️Watch ESPN on YouTube TV: http://es.pn/YouTubeTV
#nhl #espn
22 Comments
What a surprise. Thanks a lot for this. I really appreciate.
I recall that year, time to repeat truth a slightly different ending
Saw the title as was initially confused because Marchand was eliminated in the first round this year.
Year of the rat 🐀
The Cats eating Rats🐀 😂
Avs had to deal with those rats for a while, but Roy took 'em down! What a crazy story.
I'm surprised his jersey hasn't been retired by the Panthers. He was a great player and leader for the Panthers.
Love to see content on my favorite hockey club! LETS GO PANTHERS 🐀🐀🐀🐀
I hope the panthers won a Stanley cup
I had a lot of fun as a 10 year old going to nearly every home game with 2-3 fake rats that year. Great memories. Miami Arena was a mad house.
It’s not 1993.
Matty Tkachuck is the new rat king
I was 13 years old. It was great then but honestly, I'm sick of hearing about 1996. I want to talk about winning a cup.
I was a kid in Michigan but I had Florida panthers stickers on my helmet
GO CATS, GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Tonight we eliminate the biggest hockey market in the NHL, Toronto!
Go Panthers! The Year of the Rat was legendary
I literally had man tears when i saw the rats once again. Wow so much memories. Now we see the rats again. Go Cats!! SI SE PUEDE VIVA LOS GATOS
The year of the rat is the history of the Panthers and wouldn't you know it. Marcy got beat by his own kind in 7.
they already had the year of the rat. they look good so far…maybe over-achieving a bit
Year of hockey rat, I thought the Washington Commodes played football at the DC Swamp Eat Stadium. David
DC SWAMP RAT STADIUM, home of the "Washington Commodes", formerly the Washington Commanders. Bring your own toilet paper and remember to flush after each dump snd pisd. Suggestion, bring air freshener in emresoect to the ticket holder beside you. David
Viktor E. Rat is the Leagues best mascot 🫡🔥
I know it isn't the year of the rat anymore but I still want to see rats getting showered on the ice whenever they make it 😂 It should really be their thing! It's so cool