NHL: 5 Craziest Rookie Hazings in League History

Hazing anywhere is frowned upon. This mentality is sometimes seen as a gray area in the sporting world.

It is common for veterans to tease or initiate rookies into their circle. It builds relationships, and if done in a harmless way, creates good fun all around.

Obviously, situations can be taken too far, but if the veteran group is mature, things will stay under control for the most part.

In the NHL, certain rookie rituals are commonplace in the locker room and on the road.

Here are five scenarios rookies in the NHL may encounter.

Picking Up the Tab

When Jon Klemm was drafted by the Colorado Avalanche it did not take long for the current Avalanche players to welcome him to their locker room.

Klemm's rookie dinner bill came to $10,000, $3,500 of which he was expected to pay for.

Obviously Klemm did not buy all of this food himself. Avalanche veterans took the liberty to buy the best and most expensive food on the menu.

This type of situation is common around the sporting world. Most rookies are told to save that first pay check, so they are not stuck when their teammates decide they want a free meal.

Redecorating the Rookies' Hotel Room

For anyone who watched HBO's 24/7 series, this one should be easy to picture.

As rookies, Ben Lovejoy and Mark Letestu left their hotel rooms and a group of veterans led by Matt Cooke decided to do some decorating.

Cooke and company took all of the rookies' hotel room furnishings out of their rooms and into the hallway. They even arranged the furnishings in the same orientation of the room.

This type of hazing is playful and with good intentions. It is also very funny, and based on what they showed on camera, Letestu and Lovejoy thought so as well.

Chauffeuring Veterans

In Cam Fowler's rookie season in Anaheim, he had a pretty unique hazing experience.

According to reports, Fowler chauffeured Teemu Selanne and team captain Ryan Getzlaf to a game. Fowler even opened Selanne's door and wore a chauffeur hat.

This is another example of how rookie hazing does not have to be as malicious as most of the incidents heard about on the news.

With the right group of veterans hazing, it can be what it is meant to be, fun and harmless.

Getting a Haircut

The Edmonton Oilers used head shaving as their preferred rookie initiation.

In the St. Valentine's Day Hair Massacre, seven players shaved their head, six of which were rookies. How would you feel to be the one non-rookie?

Head shaving is another common rookie haze across all sports. Tim Tebow did it when he became a Denver Broncos player, and NHL players must deal with the same thing.

There could be worse. Hair will grow back.

Comedic Introductions

Perhaps the most unique hazing in recent memory lies within Bill Guerin's days as a New York Islander.

Guerin had a chance as team captain to introduce rookie Josh Bailey at a team event in Nassau Coliseum.

After announcing Bailey, Guerin handed him a Brett Favre Islanders' jersey and told him welcome to the organization and rookie hazing.

Guerin is known as a great locker room guy and a quality veteran. This type of light-hearted fun is what it's all about. While I am sure it made Bailey uncomfortable for a few seconds, I am also sure he realized it was Guerin's way of welcoming him to their organization.