Those towel-waving fans you see on Stanley Cup playoff games are following a tradition started by Head Coach Roger Neilson of the Vancouver Canucks when he waved a white towel protesting a referee's calls back in 1982.
The innovative and unpredictable Neilson worked for ten NHL teams across his career and earned the nickname "Captain Video" for being the first to watch replays of the night's game. All-star goalie John Vanbiesbrouck saluted Neilson's ability to bring big egos togther for the sake of team unity.
Facing a form of bone marrow cancer, Neilson, who had given his life to Christ at age 12, met his disease with admirable panache: "God has a plan for me," he testifed, "and the cancer just happens to be part of it." Following transplant surgery in 2000 he guided his Flyers to the Stanley Cup semi-finals. He is still remembered fondly by fans and announcers who mourned his passing in 2003.