Hockey teams everywhere have turned the post-game win prop into an unofficial — and undeniably fun — tradition. After victories, the player of the game is chosen not for a speech or a handshake line, but to wear something intentionally over the top: a bomber jacket, a WWE belt, a fighter-pilot helmet, a cowboy hat, a firefighter’s bucket. It’s usually ridiculous on purpose, and that’s the point. The previous game’s recipient has the honor of selecting the next one, placing the item on their head or shoulders and saying a few words to the room.
It’s bonding, levity and a moral booster all rolled into one.
On Thursday night, after a 4-2 win over the Oilers, the New York Islanders finally unveiled their 2025-26 version. Captain Anders Lee reached into a bag and pulled out an Iron Man mask — drawing a roar of laughter and surprise from teammates when they realized this would be the prop of the year. Lee then walked it across the room and presented it to Bo Horvat, who had just recorded his first hat trick as an Islander and only the second of his NHL career.
Introducing: Iron Bo pic.twitter.com/FjB2hxIUYk
— New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) October 17, 2025
“I don’t know if it’s going to fit,” Lee said with a smile as the room cracked up.
The Islanders had gone longer than they would have liked without a chance to bring the new tradition to life — it took their fourth game to grab a win — but they hope the Iron Man mask becomes a regular postgame fixture. With Ottawa on deck Saturday, they would love nothing more than to pass it along again, keep the laughs going, and let the new ritual gather momentum the way only winning can
Let’s hope there is more superhero type play from their superstar players.
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