Ever since I thought my family was going to move to the State of Hockey last winter, I've tried to learn about hockey. That task was going to be much harder than I thought living in Georgia. I am in no way, shape, or form an expert on hockey, but there are some awesome things that I have picked up about this sport founded in the Great White North.
There's No Out Of Bounds
Hockey is the only sport where a player cannot go out of the playing area unless they are lifted over the boards by a grueling defenseman. The puck is constantly moving with very limited stops in play. Yes, this can make watching the game a little bit confusing but to a trained eye, the game is very exciting. There are line changes every single minute. Hockey is like one big machine with several cogs moving all at once in a beautiful flow.
Fighting
This here is a no-brainer and most people will admit that the biggest reason they attend games is to see great fights. NOTE: If you're looking for the best fights I would recommend some minor league or independent league games because the fighting rules are going to be much more lenient than the NHL rules. But don't go to a collegiate hockey game because fighting is strictly banned by the NCAA. Just another way that monstrosity of an organization is destroying collegiate athletics, but I digress.
Truly a Team Game
Hockey perfectly demonstrates the team play aspect since most of the players are on the ice for a third of the game. All Pro Defenseman will be on the ice as much as 50 percent of the game, but that is the max. In basketball, you're gonna see Lebron play upwards of 45 minutes in a 48 minute game. Or you'll see Tom Brady playing every crucial down. But in hockey you're not gonna see Sidney Crosby trying to win the game on his own. This is such a unique aspect that really differs from the other major sports like football, basketball, or even baseball. Could you imagine seeing a football team switching out quarterbacks after every series? Or even a baseball team switching pitchers every single inning? The players are switched out so rapidly due to the brutality and physical exhaustion of the sport. The hockey players need to be tough and grueling to earn playing time in the NHL.
Toughness
As you can see, I despise Lebron, but this is what makes hockey so great. These guys are tough. Plain and simple. From being checked into the boards to trading blows with the defensemen, these players already know that they will be hit by the injury bug. It's only a matter of how they overcome it. That is just one example. Minnesota Wild defenseman Ryan Suter came down with the Mumps last season and still played. Who gets the mumps anymore? The list of players dealing with significant injuries is quite extensive and it is always growing.
The NHL Winter Classic
Since 2008, every New Year's Day two teams play in the NHL Winter Classic. This game is played outside usually in one of the baseball or football stadiums across the country. Thousands upon thousands come to this game from all over the world to see hockey in its purist form. Hockey originated on the frozen ponds and rivers in Quebec and Ontario more than a century ago and the Winter Classic brings the game back to its roots. It's such a great sight to see the players wearing beanies and being able to see their breath on the freezing January day. In 2014, over 100,000 people filled Michigan Stadium to watch a game between the Maple Leafs and Red Wings. And that's a hockey game. Not football. This is such a tremendous sporting event.
The Best Position in Sports: "The Goon"
Every hockey team has had one. This is the guy that has little to no hockey or skating ability and is on the team for one reason and one reason only: to fight. The enforcer or the goon goes onto the ice usually to protect the team's best player. If the player is hit or instigated for a fight, that enforcer is going to jump in and take care of business. Since the fighting rules and sports in general are trying to become safer for the players, the enforcers are a rare breed. Without question, these guys are going to bleed for the team and make their players better. A huge win in fisticuffs can help rally a team to victory and when the goal scorers know that they have some security, they can focus on putting the puck in the net. The greatest hockey player of all time, Wayne Gretzky had his own enforcer when he played for the Los Angeles Kings. This guy was Marty McSorley and he was a crazy enforcer. When he didn't have Gretzky's back, he was in the penalty box. Until one time when he got a little too crazy.
Hockey Movies Are Great
The original hockey movie, "Slapshot" is one of sport's greatest movies. My favorite hockey would have to be "Miracle," which tells the tale of the 1980 US Men's Hockey gold medal team. This team defeated the Soviets in Lake Placid to create one of the best moments in sports history. If you want to check one out on Netflix, watch "Goon." This raunchy comedy shows the true personality of hockey's goon.
Ok, so the regular season starts in just over a month. Most of these games are not going to interrupt college football Saturdays or NFL Sundays. So if you get a chance, check out a NHL game on TV or even go to a NHL or minor league hockey game. You might be pleasantly surprised.
