What's the origin of the term 'hat trick'?

Search: hat trick

Why: We were watching some show on the Food Network, and I think Rachael Ray said something about cooking a "hat trick." I was like

but not really, because I don't really know what it means. All I know is that in my first soccer game ever (c. 1994) I scored a hat trick... and also a 4th goal. You're welcome, MJCC Girls 10 & Under Rec Team.

Answer: It comes from cricket! The OED says:

The feat of a bowler who takes three wickets by three successive balls: originally considered to entitled him to be presented by his club with a new hat or some equivalent.

Lol, "takes three wickets." Get out of here, cricket. In 1858, player H.H. Stephenson took 3 wickets in 3 balls in Sheffield.

A collection was held for Stephenson (as was customary for outstanding feats by professionals) and he was presented with a cap or hat bought with the proceeds.

Look at those chops on front-n-center.

Anyhoo, hockey players / teams / fans / announcers adopted the term from cricketery.

In the 1940s, a Toronto haberdasher used to give Maple Leaf hockey players free hats when they scored three goals in a game.

But mostly, fans just throw throw hats onto the ice. In the early 20th century, this was especially nice to see because a classier breed of men wore classier hats. These are from a long time ago:

Nowadays, they usually donate the gross cast-offs to charity.

Source: Ask! Yahoo, WiseGeek, Wikipedia

The More You Know: On an unrelated note, Aaron Carter was also on the Foot Network show where Rachael Ray was talking, and I'm just gonna throw it out there that I do not believe that he likes girls more than he likes boys.

^ I don't know why that thing had to have 100 spaces before and after it, but it did. Sry.