The Canadian company that prepared the ice for the Men's Hockey final at Salt Lake buried a Canadian gold-colored dollar coin (known as a Loonie) at Center Ice for good luck before the game. The "Great One", Wayne Gretsky, was presented with the coin after the the Canadians won the game. He said it was a "cool idea" and he is donating the Loonie to the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto. As a Canadian I am not complaining about our "Lucky Loonie" but I allow that Americans may not see the humor in it. Apart from that, I am wondering how one should describe this superstitious ritual. Is the Loonie a talisman for good luck or a hex on the opponent? Or what is it in the vernacular of the superstitious?
