Social isolation and quarantine can cause the mind to go crazy. With our newfound time, I decided to look at some unusual hockey statistics!
Everyone knows the typical stats that come along with every NHL season: goals, points, goals against average, etc… However, what many don’t realize is the funnier, lesser known stats that float around the NHL.
While bored and surfing the internet I stumbled upon a website called morehockeystats.com and couldn’t help but laugh at. Stats such as the warm welcome stat, frequent dancers stat and Toronto love stat are just a few of the irregular statistics I came across on the website. Take a read with me as I dive into some of these unusual hockey statistics.
We’ll start with my favorite: the frequent dancers statistic. For most hockey fans this stat seems obvious: players that have frequently met each other in a dropping of the gloves. The statistic began to be tracked in 1997.
The statistic is divided into three categories: fights, scrums and totals. Of all players (active and inactive) Bob Ray and Tie Domi lead both fights (13) and totals (14), they met in one scrum. While out of all players Kris Letang and Scott Hartnell lead in scrums (four).

Out of active only players, Cody McLeod hold the top four fighting spots squaring up against Chris Thorburn (eight), Matt Hendricks (five), Adam McQuaid, and Derek Dorsett (both at four apiece); this means McLeod has a total of 20 fights.
However, don’t fret Islander fans, our beloved players are not that far down on the list. Out of active players Leo Komarov is eighth in scrums versus Alexander Radulov with three. While fan favorite Matt Martin holds the sixth and seventh spot for fights out of active players. He squared up against Derek Dorsett and Wayne Simmonds with four fights a piece. It’s safe to say though Islanders may not lead this statistic they’re easily able to hold their own.
The other stat that caught my eye is the warm welcome stat. This statistic is used to represent both goalies and teams that have given up the most first NHL goals. The team leading this season (2019-20) is the Anaheim Ducks with four goals allowed. Meanwhile, leading all teams from when this stat began being tracked to this season, the Boston Bruins lead the league with 248. Now when it comes to the goalies Mackenzie Blackwood (Devils), John Gibson (Ducks), Carey Price (Canadiens) and Jonathan Quick (Kings) all lead the league this season with three goals.
Thomas Greiss is tied for second with seven other goalies allowing two goals in this season. Leading all goalies from the start of the stat to this year is Gilles Emile Meloche, who played for multiple teams throughout his career between the seasons of 1970-71 to 1987-88. He leads with 44. The first Islander goalie to make this list comes in at number 17 is ex-Islander goalie Kelly Hrudey.

The final unusual hockey statistic I plan on discussing today is the Toronto love stat, and no that’s not a statistic that shows how many NHL fans hate Toronto, because you know the islanders would lead that with the Bruins close behind. Instead, it is a statistic that shows how many coaches challenges have occurred and been won by that team.
Since the coaches’ challenge started recently this stat is relatively new. This statistic started in 2015-16 season, the team leading the league in total challenges won (those for them and against them) were the Winnipeg Jets with 21, while the San Jose Sharks lead the league in total lost (both for and against) with 28. While in the same season the Islanders won a total of 16 and lost a total of seven. In the 2019-20 season the Edmonton Oilers, lead the league with 15 total won. The Sharks lead yet again in total lost at 19.
The Islanders won nine and lost 14. The stat also tracks the amount of times coaches have won. This season the league leading coach is Dave Tippett with 15 total wins, while Peter DeBoer leads the league in losses at 18. This season Islanders head coach Barry Trotz has nine wins and 14 losses. In 2015-16 Paul Maurice lead the league with 21 wins and DeBoer lead the league again with 28 losses. The Islanders head coach at the time, Jack Capuano, had 16 wins and and seven losses.

These unusual hockey statistics are much more in depth than what I’ve explained in this article. If you find yourself bored in quarantine take a look at morehockey.com.

David Lazar