Triskaidekaphobia is an extreme or irrational fear of the number 13. Paraskevidekatriaphobia is the irrational fear of Friday the 13th.
The NHL only has 1 game this Friday, coincidence…I think not. For the literal hundreds of players that have worn the number 13 in the NHL with successful careers, us Triskaidekaphobians will sadly bring up Johnny Gaudreau. To bring up a happy point, Mats Sundin has his number 13 retired in Toronto.
Locally the Sherwood Park Crusaders host the Brooks Bandits. A scary enough task regardless the date on the calendar. Moving from the AJHL to the BCHL has not moved the Bandits from atop the standings. Let it be stated though that two of the four losses on the Bandits record have come via the Crusaders. Catch the action at the Sherwood Park Arena beginning at 7PM, get tickets in advance at crutickets.ca.
Switching gears, when thinking about the number 13 in Edmonton in recent history, images of Edmonton Eskimo Mike Reilly come to mind. Please note, Reilly would have been just as amazing if the team name was the Edmonton Elks back then.
Friday the 13th seems like a terrible day start a new gig but Noah Curtis of the Elks is fearlessly joining the indy wrestling scene. Top Talent Wrestling, owned by local wrestler Justin Lawrick (ring name was Heavy Metal until he rebranded himself in August 2022 as Harlon Abbott) has Curtis in a tag team match with Bobby Sharp as his partner. They will be going up against a couple of "bad guys" with Andy Anderson being one of the better veteran "bad guys" in Alberta.
All superstitious folk rejoice that Curtis' first match is not a ladder match. Can you imagine walking under a ladder on Friday the 13th!? At least it is not a full moon. From firsthand experience at these events, feel confident that despite the ominous day you will have a great time!
Not everyone is Super but we are all Stitious
Maybe you mock folks who have phobias associated with the number 13 and Friday the 13th but don't think your exempt from believing in superstitions? Ever wore the same shirt twice cause your team won when you wore it the first time? Ever admonish your little ones for opening their umbrella indoors or thrown salt over shoulder - - ask yourself why? Share your superstitions in the comment section aka our no judgement zone.
If you do plan to go out to either the Crusaders game in Sherwood Park or the Wrestling Event at Midway Music Hall, drive carefully. Like, more than usual carefully.