As a way of livening up their practice, after the official portion was over the Tampa Bay Lightning played a game of “Naked Breakaway,” which requires the players to shed a piece of clothing or equipment each time they miss on a breakaway. Once you score you no longer need to continue.
Earlier this week, Martin St. Louis found himself without jersey, arm pads, leg pads, leggings and even his skates before he was finally able to convert. His teammates found it quite amusing to watch St. Louis try and score on one skate and then have to ditch that in favor of some sandals from the locker room.
“It was fun to do,” center Vinny Lecavalier said. “The guys had a good time. Guys were laughing together.”
Fortunately no one missed enough times to have to get fully naked, although after Todd Fedoruk missed, one of his teammates suggested to the gap-toothed forward to “take out the rest of your teeth.”
“Yeah, you start getting nervous after you lose a few pieces of clothing,” Lecavalier said.
50 years ago Montreal Canadiens goalie Jacques Plante was forced off the ice after a shot hit him in the face, requiring 7 stitches to stop the bleeding. He refused to retake the ice if his coach didn’t allow him to wear the small plastic mask he had made to protect himself. With no backup, his coach had no choice.
The Slanch Report 
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