With the recent Stanley Cup Playoff games between our very own Tampa Bay Lightning and the Chicago Blackhawks, it is almost impossible to be ignorant of the hype surrounding these games. How is it even possible to avoid the watch parties being held in every bar and apartment in the Tampa area?

It makes sense that every major playoff game is a big deal, but what's appealing about the sport isn't just the speed and the excitement behind each and every game. Often we see more men going crazy over sports, but what's so great about hockey? This game has got both men and women jumping out of their seats, literally.

Appeals to Men:

1. It can actually hold his attention. What makes hockey rise above all other sports is that it pulls the audience into the fast-paced, high intensity of the game from the drop of the puck. In almost all cases, the game itself actually proves to be more interesting than the commercials. With today's media, that's a near miracle.

2. Every second counts. People are not about to leave with minutes to spare if their team is down, unlike in baseball or football. It doesn’t matter if your team is down a few goals with a minute left in the game because everything could change within seconds. It's a rush.

3. It's respectable. Jokes are always going to be tossed around about every type of sport, but what cannot be refuted are the base skills every hockey player has. Just being able to ice skate is impressive, and yet these players have to deal with being constantly slammed into the rink (and each other) when maneuvering a stick around all these other players in the vain effort to keep their eyes on a black speck being whipped around the ice. That doesn't sound easy.

4. The fights.You'd be hard-pressed to see a hockey game without a fight. These men are the most aggressive bunch you'll ever dream of meeting. Unlike in other sports, fighting isn't an urge to be fought against, but a natural part of the game that fans look forward to. It's just bad ass.

5. It’s the sport with the least annoying referees. Refs are a necessary part of all sporting events (flashback to every FIFA world cup ever). Don’t get me wrong, I’ll be the first to curse a ref in the heat of a hockey game, but refs in hockey tend to be of better judgment than in other sports.This is probably because the rules are more straightforward and transgressions are hard to miss.“I didn’t punch him!” is a lie easily noticed, opposed to “I tagged him with the ball on the shoulder before he slid to third!”

Appeals to Women:

1. It's fast. Just like I mentioned in the appeals for men, hockey is a fast paced sport that is naturally less boring than other sports where a lot more waiting around is involved. Man or woman, this is something that is appealing about the sport.

2. Like, actually fast. Men go shopping for us, so sometimes women deal with sporting events for men. This one's for the women who aren't necessarily fans of sports in general and are just watching the game to appease a significant other or friend, or for the women going just because a party is being thrown for the game. Hockey is great because the games don't drag on. There are only three, 20-minute periods and I'm not talking 20 'football minutes' that seem to last more like hours, but 20 actual minutes where the seconds just melt away.

3. It's simple. Hockey is comprised of a slab of ice, a bunch of big men, some sticks, two goals and a puck. How easy is that? Even the terminology is relatively simple and easy to catch on to. Stick a girl who isn't really into sports in front of a television and put on a baseball game. Try and have her discern the type of pitch being thrown. Next, flip on a football game and have her explain the play that the quarterback just ran. Now, explain to her what a Half Nelson is. This stuff isn't easy to jump into right off the bat and is necessary to really understand what is going on when the sport is being played. Hockey has terms and depth to its strategy, but watch the puck and anybody can follow the game enough to enjoy it.

4. It's exciting. There is a lot of yelling in hockey. Everyone is energetic and jumping out of his or her seats throughout the entire game. The excitement is contagious.

5. It's attractive. There really is something special in the raw aggression of hockey. It's just SO masculine. They're tough and it's hot. What woman could resist?

6. It's air-conditioned. Let's face it, females generally just don't like sweating. If you actually go to a game, you're guaranteed air conditioning. No need to worry about dressing light or the sun melting off your make-up! Bring a jacket just in case and comfort is guaranteed.

All sports have their merit, fans, and make money. I follow them all and have a favorite team from football to baseball. Hockey just happens to be an easy sport to appreciate by men and women. Oh, and of course, Go Bolts!