One of the finer -- and least hygienic -- traditions in the game of puck is what is known as "the playoff beard." It's a gross tradition believed to have been started in the 1980's by the New York Islanders, and the Phoenix Coyotes are hoping to bring it to the Valley.
For obvious reasons, namely the infrequency of the Phoenix Coyotes playoff appearances and the fact that desert-dwellers tend not to be the biggest hockey fans, Phoenicians may not be familiar with this phenomenon, but the Coyotes are hoping to change that with a playoff "Beard-A-Thon" the team hopes will have everyone in town looking like Cat Stevens.
The purpose of the face fuzz isn't just to get people to cheer on the Coyotes as they head to the playoffs for the first time in eight years; the Coyotes are using it as an opportunity to raise money for charity.
Each participant can have his beard sponsored by friends and family, and the money is donated to Coyotes charities.
According to the Coyotes, simply not shaving isn't enough. Here are a list of the team's complete rules: Start with a clean shave the first day of the playoffs, then don't shave your beard at any time during the playoffs. The beard can be trimmed only between rounds, never during.
The bearded fan who raises the most money for their playoff beard will win glass-level seats to a Coyotes game next season (assuming the team isn't moved to Canada, of course) and smaller prizes will be awarded to the five runners up.
The playoffs start Wednesday, when the Coyotes take on the Detroit Red Wings in the first round, so if you want to enter your beard or the beard of a friend, you can do so by clicking here.
