A natural hat trick is a term used in ice hockey and soccer to describe a hat trick achieved by a player whose three goals are scored consecutively, with no player on either team scoring in between. In ice hockey, a natural hat trick occurs when a player scores three consecutive goals in a game, uninterrupted by any other player scoring for either team. There are two types of natural hat tricks in hockey:
- A player scoring three goals in the course of a single period.
- A player scoring three consecutive goals in a game.
The term "hat trick" originated in cricket in 1858 to describe the feat of a bowler taking three wickets with consecutive deliveries in the same match. In ice hockey, a hat trick is usually rewarded with fans tossing their hats down onto the ice. The term "natural" in natural hat trick refers to the consecutive nature of the three goals scored by the player, without any other player scoring in between.
