Dart Guy

About

Dart Guy refers to Jason Maslakow, a visiting Toronto Maple Leafs fan who rose to prominence after being shown several times on the Sportsnet broadcast of Game 2 in the National Hockey League's Eastern Conference Quarterfinal between the Maple Leafs and the host Washington Capitals on April 15, 2017.

Maslakow, who drove from Waterloo, Ontario to Washington, D.C. to see the game donning a mohawk in the shape of the Stanley Cup, blue and white face paint, a dyed-blue beard and a cigarette hanging out of his mouth, quickly became a working class icon for Leafs fans across social media avenues.

Origin

Having only played one playoff series between 2005 and 2016, the Maple Leafs were considered one of the NHL's premier up-and-coming teams, but given very little chance to be a serious contender in the 2017 playoffs, especially as they were matched up with the powerhouse Capitals in the opening round.

However, because of Toronto's hockey history, the team's corporate support and its playoff drought, tickets were far more expensive in Toronto than anywhere else.

Before the series, the cheapest seat on Stubhub went for $45 USD for Game 2 in Washington, with the cheapest seat for Game 3 in Toronto at $285 USD.

Maslakow, who was celebrating a friend's birthday at Game 2 in Washington, was featured in the pre-game programming on Sportsnet in Canada showing off his Stanley Cup mohawk and Leafs-based face paint. He and his friends were among many Leafs fans who descended on Washington, travel and ticket prices combined still a cheaper alternative to attending a game in Toronto.

Throughout the game, Sportsnet continued to pan over Maslakow.

During an in-game mini feature on playoff beards, the broadcast compared Maslakow's beard to the lack of facial hair on the Leafs' young stars. Maslakow was seen sporting a sinister grin and a cigarette hanging out of his mouth, an image that began being posted on Twitter.

Spread

Much alike the use of Pepe the Frog amongst Donald Trump supporters during the 2016 American Election, countless Leafs fans used the image of Maslakow with the cigarette, and Photoshop edits of it, as their profile photos on Twitter and Facebook.

As the underdog Leafs won the game 4-3 in double-overtime, tying the series at one game apiece, Maslakow was identified by Washington Post reporter Dan Steinberg.

Twitter user @LeafsMaz20 identified himself as "Dart Guy", posting photos the next day of his trip home from Washington, albeit with no face paint or facial hair dye. He claimed to have been offered tickets to Game 3 by the Maple Leafs, and was invited by Q107 radio host John Derringer to join him at Game 4.