Weird Game Last Night,

Wow, that was an interesting game, interesting in the sense that it was funny to see the officiating take a full 180 on the approach to penalty calling. In game one the referees seemed content to award penalties for looking at players the wrong way, and in game two it began to look like a penalty would not be awarded short of a lost limb. It’s this level of inconsistency that drives hockey players NUTS. I was no super star growing up, but was a proficient enough defensemen to play “AAA” hockey in the Toronto area for years growing up, I’ve played against and with current NHL players, so I do have a decent basis for observation regarding this. Attempting to explain this to a less, let’s say enthralled, observer of the game is sometimes where this issue makes itself so evident as to the level of frustration displayed on the ice. The futility of trying to point out the minute differences of these calls the next day around the water cooler is when they become even more infuriating to fans. I’ve been witness to the rule changes which are commonly referred to as the “New NHL” and for the most part I’m a big fan of the wide openness of the games as well as a more concerted importance being placed on skill. Where I’ve noticed this becoming an issue for officials is the playoffs, as most fans and players alike for years have been playing and watching with the understanding that during the playoffs it was the officials job to determine what was a penalty, not only by game but basically by period. For years it was common knowledge that officials would “put away their whistles” half way through the third period, this was to allow the PLAYERS on the ice to determine the outcome of the hockey game. I understand that this would sometimes lead to more talented players having to fight through more illegal checks, which would mean it was far more impressive when a goal was scored. Living in Toronto allows me access to probably about as much hockey coverage in the media as there is NFL news in towns like Green Bay and all over New England. After the 3 OT periods played by the Sharks and the Stars last week several TV commentators in Toronto were actually debating if this was “boring” or less entertaining “than watching paint dry”, this makes about as much sense as the same network asking a professional coach if “he was expecting more form his (held pointless, at the time) Captain?”. The assessment that watching professional athletes pushed passed any person’s breaking point physically and mentally and still managing to have the outcome of the first 60 minutes of hockey all determined by the next goal, the literal definition of no room for error. It is during these marathon games that legends can be made, Bobby Baun any one? Baseball games in the US can go 15 innings, not playoff games mind you, EVERY GAME has that potential. For 82 games of the regular season we have been forced to accept these silly shoot-outs just to differentiate a regular season point to teams for a drill that we used to beg our coach to waste time at the end of every practice. I am aware that to market the game internationally and especially in the US market it is imperative that the league present the image of encouraging the growth of the game to meet US demands, but this should never come at the cost of what makes hockey the game it is. Years from now will we be able to look back on these playoffs and be able to genuinely compare the playoff heroics between the Crosby, Malkin and Ovechkins from that of Gretzky, Howe or either Richard. The game today is faster and the players have far more skill then that observed even 10 years ago, thanks to advances in equipment and training technology. Composite sticks, heated skate blades and the simple use of sports drinks alone would make this game sound like a science fiction versions of itself if it were to have been explained to a hockey fan of generations past, imagine explaining what a “electrolyte” is to your grandparents. Yet there still seems to be an effort to move away from the close checking game that the NHL playoffs have been known for and where the passion for the most storied trophy in professional sports originated. The NHL appears to be modelling the game after what Bettman learned from his days in professional basketball. I am a SPORTS fan first and a hockey fan second, and I do have a great appreciation for the NFL, NBA and MLB but I believe that hockey is unique. In the NFL you are awarded 6 points for scoring a TD on offense or defence with an opportunity to score one or two additional points, as well as the option of a field goal for 3 points. The NBA has an average of what 40-50 separate scoring instances over a game per team, with each basket being awarded from 1-3 points, and the final scores generally from 80 points up. MLB has 162 games a year, basically each games outcome is worth less than %0.75 over the length of a season. In hockey it’s fairly straight forward, or at least it used to be, a goal is 1 point, there are 82 games in a year. A regulation time win is 2 points a regulation tie is 1 point and a loss is 0 points, a team scoring a goal during an extra shortened period (in what used to be 5 on 5) was awarded the equivalent points of a win in regulation. In the past when games ended tied after an additional 5 minute period, both teams were applauded for their effort and for the battle. Somewhere this became insufficient for fans, a defined winner would have to be declared or how would supporters know how to “feel” about the outcome of the game. Hockey was not a game that was meant to be reviewed the next day in box scores such as baseball, or would a players individual performance be able to be gauged by reviewing how many yards/tackles/passes/receptions the following week. A player who played 30 minutes of that game was able not to have a goal scored against his team while he was on the ice, provided a impactful physical presence and was responsible for checking the opposing teams top players may go weeks without ever registering a “stat” during a winning streak but to any observer of the games the same player could have been an integral part of every win. Hockey is a game of subtle actions being in the right position at the right time, or making the correct split second decision which may prevent a detrimental goal, none of which are transferable to box scores or shortened Sportscentre and other equivalent sports shows in the 20-30 seconds they allow for each game. There are several suggestions I would have for the NHL’s marketing department but attempting to change the subtleties of the game is definitely the wrong approach. I have heard the opinion that you have to “born into hockey” and I always argued that mentality. Having played international tournaments growing up in the 90’s we played teams from Detroit, Minnesota, San Jose, Mexico and several European countries and every PLAYER I met was not necessarily born into the game but most were very passionate about the game. That is where the hook lies I believe, in the passion. NFL fans could be considered the best model for this, as anyone who knows a Cheese Head or a member of Raider Nation or the infamous Dogg Pound would be able to attest to. My utopian society would be a balmy October Sunday in LA where there is a massive tailgate for The Raiders, Dodgers, Lakers and the Kings and all fans are encouraged to enjoy in the similarities that all sports fans share. These similarities are looked upon by others as being the illogical devotion to a team, the beautiful thing that I’ve always loved about sports was the absolute freedom in your faith in sports. Most people don’t choose their religion or their family or the class bracket that they’re born into but everyone can choose who they root for in the world of sports.