Oct 25, 05 08:15 pm — If any of you have been watching hockey lately, (I doubt you have, but after this post, you'll understand why you should), you've realised this is a new game. The integration of ideas from the international game have benefitted the game ten fold.

1. Goons who can only fight and not play the game are dying out.

a. With the new rules vis a vis fighting or hooking/blocking, it is less worth a players time.
b. With less money to spend, multiple skills are paramount.
c. Younger, smaller players are getting a chance, and they have a chip on their collective shoulder.

2. Without all the clutching and grabbing, the superior players can play like they're supposted to.

a. Look at players like Gagne. Freed from the cheap shots of crappy players, they're having a great time.
b. Seniors like Jagr are having a renaissance of skill because they can skate in open ice without getting molested and hauled down.

3. The elimination of the 2 line pass rule has opened up the rink.

a. Think of it this way...if it was the NFL...30 yard+ passes were illegal, now they're not.
b. If you know hockey, disregard (a).

4. Goalie pads are back to a reasonable size.

So give hockey a chance again. As long as you can follow a black puck on white ice.


[journal edited by wit on 2005:10:25 20:16:20]