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Predators fans’ answer for the octopus: catfish, of course

Anaheim Ducks v Nashville Predators - Game Six

of the Anaheim Ducks of the Nashville Predators in Game Six of the Western Conference Quarterfinals during the 2011 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Bridgestone Arena on April 24, 2011 in Nashville, Tennessee.

Frederick Breedon

The Nashville Predators play in a market where hockey might seem foreign, but they might just have the cleverness and energy to make up for a lack of “tradition.” Speaking of traditions, much like Phoenix Coyotes fans did with “#throwthesnake,” Predators fans have reacted to the Detroit Red Wings’ octopus-throwing fans by tossing ... catfish.

At least one Predators fan chucked the popular Southern seafood staple onto the ice after a Paul Gaustad goal, which opened up the scoring in tonight’s Red Wings-Predators game.

(Note: I haven’t come across photos of the phenomenon just yet, so feel free to share some in the comments if you happen upon any.)

As #throwthecatfish may or may not pick up social media steam on Twitter, I must ask: is throw the catfish superior to the throw the snake? On one hand, catfish is a more readily edible food* and can be fished out of a body of water, which makes it more closely aligned to the original octopus. On the other hand, throw the snake came first, so it deserves points for being a predecessor of sorts (plus it’s usually of a rubber variety, which is easier on the ice and whoever has to clean it up).

Final thought: is this a sign that we’ll see some plastic rats fly in Florida again? One can only hope.

* - I don’t want to estrange any snake-eating readers.