In hockey, a game of power, finesse and speed played on ice, scoring goals are a priority item. A team is awarded a goal when a player shoots the puck past the opposition's goalie and into the goal. The goal itself, often referred to simply as the "net," measures four feet tall (1.22 meters) and six feet wide (1.83 meters). If someone scores a "hat trick" in hockey, it means that a player has scored three goals in one game.

The team with the most goals at the end of a hockey game is declared the winner. Hockey is one of the few sports that allows a game to end in a tie. Scoring one goal in a game of hockey is an admirable feat; scoring three goals in a hockey games is a rarity. Many players go their entire career without even coming close to scoring a hat trick. Hockey statisticians keep track of both team and individual highlights during a season. For one scored goal, a statistician will award a player one point. The player who passes the puck to a player who scores is awarded an "assist" by the stat man and also receives a point. While assists are a vital part of hockey and carry the exact same weight (one point) as a goal itself, assists are never taken into play when discussing a hat trick. A hat trick is based on goals alone.

When a player in the National Hockey League (NHL) scores a hat trick, the fans, as a custom, toss their hats or caps on to the ice as a sign of their appreciation and respect. It's their way of recognizing the rarity of this feat. Hall of famer Wayne Gretzsky, had fans tossing their hats to the ice many times during his storied 20-year career. Of the many NHL records Gretzsky owns, the fact that he scored 50 hat tricks from 1979-1999 may be the most amazing. Akin to the grand slam in baseball, a hat trick is a feat fans will not often witness, but when they do, they won't soon forget.