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Sat Mar 07, 2009 4:22 pm EST

Video: Either Kennedy's stick tastes like candy, or this is awkward

By Greg Wyshynski

It goes without saying that hockey players have an emotional attachment to their equipment. But upon witnessing Pittsburgh Penguins forward Tyler Kennedy treating his lumber like a popsicle on the bench, that emotional attachment can clearly manifest itself in truly strange ways. God bless DVRs:

"We're witnessing Tyler Kennedy licking his stick" is, perhaps, the single greatest opening line to a YouTube video we've ever heard. Dickens wishes he had written poetry like this.

Now, playing Encyclopedia Brown for a moment here: This is obviously a Penguins road game, and Kennedy's last four games have all been on the road. But the video was posted on March 6, Sidney Crosby's on the bench and there's an ad for York indoor air conditioning ... which means this is likely from the Penguins' game against the Florida Panthers from March 5 -- a game that saw Kennedy score two goals.

If this is in fact from the Florida game, then the only question is whether this lick was the "please" or the "thank you."

OK, so that's not the only question. Not by a long shot.

For the hockey players in the readership: Have any of you ever licked your stick on the bench? And, overall, what was your most extreme example of personal attachment to skates, sticks or other equipment? Speaking to them away from the ice? Sleeping next to them? Voodoo ceremonies?

Thanks to Puck Buddy Amanda for the tip.

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64 Comments

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  1. The Flash
    1. Posted by The Flash Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:53 pm EDT

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    I
  2. The Flash
    2. Posted by The Flash Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:53 pm EDT

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    Mr. kennedy...
    kennedy!
  3. Chris
    3. Posted by Chris Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:06 pm EDT

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    How many licks does it take to get the center of a hockey stick? Only Tyler Kennedy knows.
  4. aaron
    4. Posted by aaron Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:19 pm EDT

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    Talbot is next to him and it looks like he said something to Kennedy. Just look at the sly smile Kennedy puts on after he does it, almost as if he knew he was on the jumbotron.
  5. colin c
    5. Posted by colin c Thu Sep 03, 2009 6:50 pm EDT

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    I talk to my stick, bout it for me.
    only equiptment near my mouth is tape to tear it.
  6. Doox
    6. Posted by Doox Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:47 pm EDT

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    Maybe he did it because the coach accidentally touched it right beforehand? Hockey players can be pretty superstitious, so maybe someone else touching his stick "jinxed" it, so he had to lick it to help counteract?
  7. Billkamm
    7. Posted by Billkamm Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:26 pm EDT

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    I definitely hug my skates. I can't help it. I love them so much.
  8. burghfan
    8. Posted by burghfan Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:25 pm EDT

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    Isn't it every guys dream to lick his stick?
  9. Cale P
    9. Posted by Cale P Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:57 pm EDT

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    We have now seen the dark side of the "candy cane" tape fad.
    The video is probably made funnier by the Sagetesque sound effect.
  10. FREE_CANDY44
    10. Posted by FREE_CANDY44 Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:42 pm EDT

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    talbot definitely put him up to it... only max can help create such comedy on the bench
  11. PC
    11. Posted by PC Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:45 pm EDT

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    He was probably licking blood off, to keep it from getting slippery, and also maybe to save lives.
  12. ogrezilla
    12. Posted by ogrezilla Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:43 pm EDT

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    I am almost positive he knew he was on the jumbotron thanks to mr. Superstar Talbot. And yes, this was the panthers game. And yes, it was before he scored either of his 2 goals. I bet he licks it again tomorrow in DC.
  13. NickE
    13. Posted by NickE Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:55 pm EDT

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    I used to pour a little water on the tape I put on the bottom of my lacrosse stick. If the tape is wet at all it provides a little more grip or at least tactile sensation through your gloves. I can"t think that is what he is doing though...
  14. The_Word
    14. Posted by The_Word Thu Sep 03, 2009 6:56 pm EDT

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    Hmm... Can't say I've ever seen that. We do have a kid on our team who's in charge of naming everyone's stick (self-appointed). Most are pretty creative and consist of words best confined to the locker room. Meanwhile what a coaching job by that guy in the video. Even with the sound off I learned more about hockey from his hand gestures than I have in 13 years of playing.
  15. Temple of Poetry
    15. Posted by Temple of Poetry Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:19 pm EDT

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    I wipe my blades in a gentle, caressing motion, taking care to remove any trace of water. But I can't say I've ever licked any of my equipment. Definitely not elbow/knee pads after a game-- phew!
  16. MarkT
    16. Posted by MarkT Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:42 pm EDT

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    I used to suck on my baseball mitts when I was a kid, but I was also in left field so nothing ever happened.
  17. Runnin up on ya !
    17. Posted by Runnin up on ya ! Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:47 pm EDT

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    Why does Kennedy lick his stick? cuz he can.
  18. Sledge Longfellow
    18. Posted by Sledge Longfellow Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:30 pm EDT

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    The US and Canajun Women's Olympic teams both do a fair bit of licking their equipment. Not that there is anything wrong with that.
  19. Traver D
    19. Posted by Traver D Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:59 pm EDT

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    He probably lost a bet to Talbot...
  20. Kel
    20. Posted by Kel Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:49 pm EDT

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    I think the player sitting next to his left (I can't see his face, but he's wearing #25 so it is probably Talbot) dared him to do it or something. It looks kind of like Kennedy licked it in response to something Talbot said to him and then turned and smirked at Talbot after he did it. Whatever. Boys are dumb. Cute, but dumb.
  21. James S
    21. Posted by James S Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:02 pm EDT

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    Tonights biggest "suckers" goes to the Buffalo Sabres, in a tight playoff race and lose 6-3 to the Senators. Now that "sucks".
  22. tippyturtle
    22. Posted by tippyturtle Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:44 pm EDT

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    The Wings are "suckers" too. Thanks for allowing another 8 goals tonight. Focus? Anyone, focus?
  23. wsscarlett
    23. Posted by wsscarlett Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:51 pm EDT

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    No James the BIGGEST are the Wings who gave up 8 again...this time at home.The Wings better hope that their Goalies get a clue before the playoffs begin,or it will be a very short defence.Either that or they canask(beg) the league to not schedule any of the games on a Saturday.
  24. wsscarlett
    24. Posted by wsscarlett Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:51 pm EDT

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    I've said it several times on these pages and each time I do,I get a whole bunch of crap from the Wingnuts.SPEED TEAMS GIVE DETROIT ALL KINDS OF TROUBLE!!!!
  25. Kellyn
    25. Posted by Kellyn Thu Sep 03, 2009 6:57 pm EDT

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    You know, if the Columbus Blue Jackets manage to cling to the seventh or eigth seed and make the postseason, there is a very real chance they could face the Red Wings in the first round. If that happens, I doubt Detroit will gain much of an edge from having home-ice advantage; the Jackets have already proven they can walk into Joe Louis and light up Osgood like a cheap Christmas Tree. Upset, perhaps? Just sayin'.

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