PREDATORS

Man hailed as 'hero' for throwing catfish onto ice in Pittsburgh for Predators-Penguins

Jaime Cardenas
Nashville Tennessean

Even though there were stories that fish markets in Pittsburgh were not going to sell catfish to Nashville Predators fans, a catfish landed onto the ice of PPG Paints Arena midway through the second period of Game 1 of the 2017 Stanley Cup Final.

Retailers were even going as far as not selling fish to fans with a Tennessee ID.

One man, however, was not to be denied. That man was identified by Twitter users at Jacob Waddell, who is from Nolensville according to his social media profile.

The catfish appeared to be wrapped in a sticker for Midday 180, a sports radio show in Nashville. The man was escorted out of the arena while wearing a shirt for the same show.

A Penguin worker scoops up the catfish during the second period of game 1 in the Stanley Cup Final at PPG Paints Arena  Monday, May 29, 2017, in Pittsburgh, Pa.

According to the shows' Twitter account for the show, Waddell was not arrested. The show, which airs on Cumulus station's 104.5 FM The Zone, neither confirmed nor denied any involvement. 

In a statement sent to The Tennessean via Twitter, the show said: "Our listeners are the best. We applaud the gentleman that attempted to rally the Preds."

The catfish was thrown as the Penguins led 3-0 and moments before Ryan Ellis scored the Predators' first ever Stanley Cup goal in franchise history. Whether a coincidence or not, the Predators played much better the rest of the way and held the Penguins without a shot during the second period.

Waddell was hailed as "hero" by Carrie Underwood and many others on the internet.

Update (10:50 p.m.): This story was updated to include that the show airs on a Cumulus station. The show air weekdays noon-3 p.m. on 104.5 The Zone.