Maggie the Monkey
Encyclopedia
Maggie the Monkey, also Maggie the Macaque (born 1991 in Bowmanville
, Ontario
, Canada
) is a Crab-eating Macaque
from the Bowmanville Zoo
renowned for her predictions in the Stanley Cup Playoffs
.
Maggie was born and hand-raised at the Bowmanville Zoo
in Bowmanville. At the zoo, she was trained to spin a wheel. In 2003, several executives and expert panelists from the Canadian sports broadcaster TSN
decided that they would "do something random" with their show, and they ended up bringing Maggie onto their broadcasts to make predictions. While the expert panelists all overwhelmingly favored the reigning Detroit Red Wings
to defeat the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim in the first round of the 2003 Stanley Cup Playoffs
, Maggie spun a wheel and selected the Ducks. Astoundingly, the Mighty Ducks upset the Red Wings in a four game sweep. As the playoffs progressed, Maggie kept pace with the panelists and continued to select the Ducks each round. The Ducks eventually lost the Stanley Cup
to the New Jersey Devils
in seven games, but Maggie's overall record was 8-7; Maggie finished one guess behind three panelists, tied two, and defeated one. During her playoff run, Maggie became extremely popular, especially in Anaheim — she was even featured on the front page of the Los Angeles Times
.
For the 2004 Stanley Cup Playoffs
, Maggie was given her own segment on TSN called The Ape-rentice, an obvious parody of the popular reality television
show The Apprentice. While her picks were not as successful as in the previous year, she finished with an overall record of 7-8, again losing to three panelists, tying two, and defeating one.
When a poll was done in the 2005–06 season, 74% of TSN viewers said that they wanted to see Maggie during the playoffs again. Maggie's best year was 2006. While she incorrectly selected the Edmonton Oilers
to defeat the Carolina Hurricanes
for the championship, she still finished first out of a panel made up of Bob McKenzie
, Pierre McGuire
, and Bill Berg
. In 2008, she made 8 correct predictions out of 15. In the first round of the 2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs
Maggie went a disappointing 2-6. She continued to disappoint during the rest of the playoffs, but for her first time, she selected the Stanley Cup
winner correctly.
), divided into sections. Half the sections display one team in a particular playoff matchup, the other half display the opposing team. Prompted by her handler, Maggie then spins it — whichever team is picked is her selection to win the best-of-seven series. James Duthie
of TSN claimed in 2003 that one of the primary motives behind having Maggie on the network was because of the unpredictability of hockey.
Bowmanville, Ontario
Bowmanville is the largest community in the Municipality of Clarington in Durham Region, Ontario, Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario about 75 km east of Toronto and 15 km east of Oshawa along Highway 2...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
) is a Crab-eating Macaque
Crab-eating Macaque
The Crab-eating macaque is a cercopithecine primate native to Southeast Asia. It is also called the "long-tailed macaque", and is referred to as the "cynomolgus monkey" in laboratories.-Etymology:...
from the Bowmanville Zoo
Bowmanville zoo
Bowmanville Zoo is a zoo in Bowmanville, Ontario, Canada. It is one of the largest suppliers of animals for Hollywood movies and television programs. It is Canada's oldest private zoo; founded in 1919, it now hosts over 300 animals. The zoo allows children to ride on the back of an elephant or a...
renowned for her predictions in the Stanley Cup Playoffs
Stanley Cup playoffs
The Stanley Cup playoffs is an elimination tournament in the National Hockey League consisting of four rounds of best-of-seven series. Eight teams from each of the league's two conferences qualify for the playoffs based on regular season records...
.
Maggie was born and hand-raised at the Bowmanville Zoo
Bowmanville zoo
Bowmanville Zoo is a zoo in Bowmanville, Ontario, Canada. It is one of the largest suppliers of animals for Hollywood movies and television programs. It is Canada's oldest private zoo; founded in 1919, it now hosts over 300 animals. The zoo allows children to ride on the back of an elephant or a...
in Bowmanville. At the zoo, she was trained to spin a wheel. In 2003, several executives and expert panelists from the Canadian sports broadcaster TSN
The Sports Network
The Sports Network, commonly abbreviated as TSN, is a Canadian English language Category C specialty channel and is Canada's leading English language sports TV channel. TSN premiered in 1984, in the first group of Canadian specialty cable channels...
decided that they would "do something random" with their show, and they ended up bringing Maggie onto their broadcasts to make predictions. While the expert panelists all overwhelmingly favored the reigning Detroit Red Wings
Detroit Red Wings
The Detroit Red Wings are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League , and are one of the Original Six teams of the NHL, along with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, New York...
to defeat the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim in the first round of the 2003 Stanley Cup Playoffs
2003 Stanley Cup Playoffs
The 2003 Stanley Cup playoffs, the National Hockey League championship, began on April 9, 2003, following the 2002–03 regular season. The playoffs concluded on June 9, 2003, with the New Jersey Devils defeating the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim in seven games.The sixteen qualifying teams played...
, Maggie spun a wheel and selected the Ducks. Astoundingly, the Mighty Ducks upset the Red Wings in a four game sweep. As the playoffs progressed, Maggie kept pace with the panelists and continued to select the Ducks each round. The Ducks eventually lost the Stanley Cup
Stanley Cup
The Stanley Cup is an ice hockey club trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League playoffs champion after the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Finals. It has been referred to as The Cup, Lord Stanley's Cup, The Holy Grail, or facetiously as Lord Stanley's Mug...
to the New Jersey Devils
New Jersey Devils
The New Jersey Devils are a professional ice hockey team based in Newark, New Jersey, United States. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
in seven games, but Maggie's overall record was 8-7; Maggie finished one guess behind three panelists, tied two, and defeated one. During her playoff run, Maggie became extremely popular, especially in Anaheim — she was even featured on the front page of the Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Times
The Los Angeles Times is a daily newspaper published in Los Angeles, California, since 1881. It was the second-largest metropolitan newspaper in circulation in the United States in 2008 and the fourth most widely distributed newspaper in the country....
.
For the 2004 Stanley Cup Playoffs
2004 Stanley Cup Playoffs
The 2004 Stanley Cup playoffs for the National Hockey League began on April 7, 2004, following the 2003–04 regular season. The playoffs ended with the Tampa Bay Lightning securing the Stanley Cup with a seven-game series win over the Calgary Flames on June 7. It was Tampa Bay's first Stanley Cup...
, Maggie was given her own segment on TSN called The Ape-rentice, an obvious parody of the popular reality television
Reality television
Reality television is a genre of television programming that presents purportedly unscripted dramatic or humorous situations, documents actual events, and usually features ordinary people instead of professional actors, sometimes in a contest or other situation where a prize is awarded...
show The Apprentice. While her picks were not as successful as in the previous year, she finished with an overall record of 7-8, again losing to three panelists, tying two, and defeating one.
When a poll was done in the 2005–06 season, 74% of TSN viewers said that they wanted to see Maggie during the playoffs again. Maggie's best year was 2006. While she incorrectly selected the Edmonton Oilers
Edmonton Oilers
The Edmonton Oilers are a professional ice hockey team based in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division in the Western Conference of the National Hockey League ....
to defeat the Carolina Hurricanes
Carolina Hurricanes
The Carolina Hurricanes are a professional ice hockey team based in Raleigh, North Carolina, USA. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League , and play their home games at the 18,680-seat RBC Center...
for the championship, she still finished first out of a panel made up of Bob McKenzie
Bob McKenzie (broadcaster)
Robert "Bob" McKenzie is a Canadian hockey commentator who has covered ice hockey since joining TSN in the late 1980s....
, Pierre McGuire
Pierre McGuire
Pierre McGuire , is an ice hockey analyst for National Hockey League broadcasts on NBC and Versus in the United States. Until 2011, he was a prominent hockey analyst on The Sports Network in Canada. Previously, he was a player, coach, and scout.-Hockey career:McGuire won two Stanley Cups as a scout...
, and Bill Berg
Bill Berg
William Daniel Berg is a retired Canadian ice hockey player.-Playing career:Playing on both wing and defense, after a minor league apprenticeship with the Springfield Indians of the American Hockey League - with whom he won a Calder Cup in 1990 - Berg started his National Hockey League career with...
. In 2008, she made 8 correct predictions out of 15. In the first round of the 2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs
2009 Stanley Cup playoffs
The 2009 Stanley Cup playoffs of the National Hockey League began on April 15, 2009, after the 2008–09 regular season. The sixteen teams that qualified, eight from each conference , play a best-of-seven series for the conference quarterfinals, semifinals and championships, and...
Maggie went a disappointing 2-6. She continued to disappoint during the rest of the playoffs, but for her first time, she selected the Stanley Cup
Stanley Cup
The Stanley Cup is an ice hockey club trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League playoffs champion after the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Finals. It has been referred to as The Cup, Lord Stanley's Cup, The Holy Grail, or facetiously as Lord Stanley's Mug...
winner correctly.
Method
Maggie's method of selecting teams is entirely random. She is presented with a wheel (similar to a carnival big six wheelBig Six wheel
The Big Six wheel, also known simply as The Big Six or Wheel of Fortune, is an unequal game of chance, played using a large vertical wheel that can be spun....
), divided into sections. Half the sections display one team in a particular playoff matchup, the other half display the opposing team. Prompted by her handler, Maggie then spins it — whichever team is picked is her selection to win the best-of-seven series. James Duthie
James Duthie (sportscaster)
James "Boom Boom" Duthie is an Ottawa-born Canadian sportscaster for TSN. He is currently the host of The NHL on TSN. In the past, he has hosted CFL Live, NBA in the Paint and SportsCentre. He also writes a column for TSN.ca called The Good the Bad the Duthie...
of TSN claimed in 2003 that one of the primary motives behind having Maggie on the network was because of the unpredictability of hockey.
Record
| Playoff year | Correct | Incorrect |
| 2003 2003 Stanley Cup Playoffs The 2003 Stanley Cup playoffs, the National Hockey League championship, began on April 9, 2003, following the 2002–03 regular season. The playoffs concluded on June 9, 2003, with the New Jersey Devils defeating the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim in seven games.The sixteen qualifying teams played... |
8 | 7 |
| 2004 2004 Stanley Cup Playoffs The 2004 Stanley Cup playoffs for the National Hockey League began on April 7, 2004, following the 2003–04 regular season. The playoffs ended with the Tampa Bay Lightning securing the Stanley Cup with a seven-game series win over the Calgary Flames on June 7. It was Tampa Bay's first Stanley Cup... |
7 | 8 |
| 2006 2006 Stanley Cup Playoffs The 2006 Stanley Cup playoffs for the National Hockey League championship began on April 21, 2006, following the 2005–06 regular season. The sixteen teams that qualified, seeded one through eight from each conference, played best-of-seven series with re-seeding after the conference quarterfinals... |
9 | 6 |
| 2007 2007 Stanley Cup Playoffs The 2007 Stanley Cup playoffs of the National Hockey League began on April 11, 2007. The sixteen teams that qualified, eight from each conference, played best-of-7 series for conference quarterfinals, semifinals and championships, and then the conference champions played a best-of-7 series for the... |
8 | 7 |
| 2008 2008 Stanley Cup Playoffs The 2008 Stanley Cup playoffs of the National Hockey League began on April 9, 2008, after the 2007–08 regular season. The sixteen teams that qualified, eight from each conference, played best-of-7 series for conference quarterfinals, semifinals and championships, and then the conference champions... |
8 | 7 |
| 2009 2009 Stanley Cup playoffs The 2009 Stanley Cup playoffs of the National Hockey League began on April 15, 2009, after the 2008–09 regular season. The sixteen teams that qualified, eight from each conference , play a best-of-seven series for the conference quarterfinals, semifinals and championships, and... |
5 | 10 |
| Total | 45 | 45 |