Hockey players suit up in shoulder pads, skates, and helmets, but for the Columbus Blue Jackets, on any given game night, there could be an extra piece of equipment in a player’s locker after the game, and it’s a welcome sight.

In a tradition started by Jackets head coach Todd Richards, postgame activities include the awarding of a mock wrestling championship belt and a crown to a team-appointed player of the game.

"Every (team) has done different things for an award like this a lot of times, sometimes it’s just a hard hat," Richards said. "I wanted to do something different. You’re trying to create something in the room with an award like this."

Richards, who played professional hockey for 13 years before turning to coaching, has a good handle on what kind of energy a winning team needs. As an assistant coach with the San Jose Sharks, Richards saw his team earn the 2008-09 President’s Trophy. As a head coach in the AHL, he coached the Wilkes Barre/Scranton Penguins to a Calder Cup final. And while with the AHL Milwaukee Admirals as assistant coach, Richards saw his teams make it to two Calder Cup final appearances and win the 2004 Calder Cup championship.

But Columbus presented a new challenge. Richards joined the organization for the 2011-12 season as an assistant coach, and later became interim head coach during a year that saw the team finish last in the league.

Before the 2012-13 season began, the interim tag was removed from Richards’ title and he went to work building a winning team. Part of that was introducing the belt.

"I always thought of a champion, and I always look at wrestling as fun and entertainment," Richards said. "I just thought (the belt) fit for what it represents and what this group is all about."

Forward Nick Foligno joined the Jackets the same year as a result of a trade with the Ottawa Senators. He hadn’t seen anything like the belt.

"(Richards) said ‘this year we’re going to do something a little different, we’re going to make you wear a belt," Foligno said. "I’ve never had (a player of the game award) on any other team so I thought it was pretty cool that he brought it to our team."

The belt was so successful that Richards added a crown to heighten the fun before the 2013-14 season. And while the coach introduced the award, the custody of it falls completely to the players. After every game, the current holder of the belt awards the prize to the player he feels is most deserving of recognition.

"It can mean whatever you want it to mean," Richards said. "I’ve seen guys with big blocked shots or guys with four goals get the belt and I’ve seen guys with four goals not get the belt.

"It has to do with how, as a player and as a teammate, what impressed you about the game."

Foligno said there is a ceremony to the award. The belt and crown are given to the deserving player who must then put on both items and give a speech.

"You look pretty ridiculous when you have it all on," Foligno said. "Some guys have the wrestling look down and they have the belt over their shoulder when they’re talking. Some guys put it around their waist so it’s pretty cool to see different guys’ reactions."

And while it’s fun to see others get the award – goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky was a frequent winner last season, and forwards Matt Calvert and Artem Anisimov are known for giving some good speeches – receiving the award means something too.

"It means that your team feels that you made a difference in the game and as a player that’s the most important thing," Foligno said. "You don’t care too much what other people say, it’s what your teammates think and that’s what makes the crown and belt so special."

Now the players are waiting to see if Richards adds something else to the postgame outfit. Richards will not confirm if the crown, belt or something else will make an appearance at the team’s season opener versus Buffalo Thursday night but you can be sure the team is waiting to find out.

"It may end up being a whole wardrobe pretty soon," Foligno said.

The Jackets travel to Buffalo to face the Sabres tomorrow to start the regular season. The game will air at 7 p.m. on FOX Sports Ohio. The team returns to home ice Saturday, Oct 11 to take on the New York Rangers in Nationwide Arena. The puck drops at 7 p.m. For more information or to buy tickets visit www.bluejackets.nhl.com.