The term for three goals scored by one player in a single hockey game is a hat trick. In ice hockey, fans traditionally celebrate the achievement by throwing hats onto the playing surface.
The expression originated in cricket during the 19th century, where it described a bowler taking three wickets with three consecutive deliveries. It later spread to many sports, including hockey. The exact origin of the hat-throwing custom is disputed, with competing stories involving Canadian teams, local hatmakers, and promotional gifts.
A natural hat trick is a more specific accomplishment: the same player scores three consecutive goals without another player scoring in between. Hockey also has the playful “Gordie Howe hat trick,” which combines a goal, an assist, and a fight in one game. That achievement is separate from the standard hat trick, which only requires three goals by one player.