I know, it's hard to admit. It's just too dangerous. The players are just too big, too fast, too strong. Just way better than their predecessors. It's just too hard to officiate, too hard to teach, and there is just no place for body on body contact. Players over 5'11" should not even be allowed to play in today's world. It is way more enjoyable to watch a player skate end to end without being touched. It's graceful and beautiful! There is no place for young players to look up to players like Stevens, Neidermeyer, Pronger or Blake. The facts are just overwhelming
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Time to eliminate hitting from men's hockey
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Re: Time to eliminate hitting from men's hockey
Originally posted by Ronnieb View PostI know, it's hard to admit. It's just too dangerous. The players are just too big, too fast, too strong. Just way better than their predecessors. It's just too hard to officiate, too hard to teach, and there is just no place for body on body contact. Players over 5'11" should not even be allowed to play in today's world. It is way more enjoyable to watch a player skate end to end without being touched. It's graceful and beautiful! There is no place for young players to look up to players like Stevens, Neidermeyer, Pronger or Blake. The facts are just overwhelming
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Originally posted by Go4PuckFan2.0 View PostI know!
Let's start with eliminating cheap head shots!
Like, those from marginal players on a teams getting curb-stomped by their greatest rival?
Gee, if only we had a recent example....
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Re: Time to eliminate hitting from men's hockey
Originally posted by Ronnieb View PostI know, it's hard to admit. It's just too dangerous. The players are just too big, too fast, too strong. Just way better than their predecessors. It's just too hard to officiate, too hard to teach, and there is just no place for body on body contact. Players over 5'11" should not even be allowed to play in today's world. It is way more enjoyable to watch a player skate end to end without being touched. It's graceful and beautiful! There is no place for young players to look up to players like Stevens, Neidermeyer, Pronger or Blake. The facts are just overwhelming
However, I think you err in the conclusion that hitting must be eliminated from the game. There is plenty of room for physical play that doesn't fall into the space of unnecessary and reckless. Last night's game between MN and WI gives us some perfect examples to illustrate this.
Wisconsin's 2nd goal is a great example of good, tactical physical play. A hard forcheck and heavy hit along the boards to create separation between the puck and the puck carrier, and then a nice bit of vision and skill to convert that into a goal. The forcheck along the boards was heavy, hard-nosed and yet still didn't cross over the line into unnecessary and dangerous.
Compare that with Wittchow's hit on Tommy Novak. There was no tactical reason for the excessive force, and no tactical reason for the shoulder to land into Novak's jaw. Separation from the puck would have been achieved just as successfully with more controlled contact to the body. This is a prime example of unnecessary and incredibly dangerous play that has no room in hockey - just as you acknowledged.
These types of hits aren't potential "momentum swingers" or potential "game changers" - they are potential life changers. And when we consider we are talking about 18 to 23-year-old kids who will most likely spend more of their lives not playing hockey than they spend playing hockey, that's just not tolerable.
All athletes accept a certain amount of inherent risk when they step onto the court/field/ice. They shouldn't be forced to accept unnecessary risk that carries devastating consequences while offering no additional tactical advantage.
Changing the culture not just of players/coaches/officials, but also of fans who crave excessively violent collisions for nothing more than the sake of excessively violent collisions, is key. So again, I applaud you for approaching this issue with the earnestness it demands.Last edited by Stauber1; 01-24-2016, 12:50 PM.
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Re: Time to eliminate hitting from men's hockey
TO-Ronnieb started this thread because he thought the 5 minute major hit in the Wisconsin-Minnesota game last night was a good 'hockey' hit. Even his fellow Badger fans tended to disagree so he started this thread. I think Ronnieb may miss the good old days and I question his earnestness in this thread.Last edited by KTDC; 01-24-2016, 01:52 PM.
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Originally posted by goldy_331 View PostWell, that and stop the dangerous hits from behind by cheap shot hacks getting whipped on the scoreboard by more talented players.Originally posted by SJHoveyPretty sure this post, made on January 3, 2016, when UNO was 14-3-1 and #2 in the pairwise, will go down in USCHO lore as The Curse of Tipsy McStagger.Originally posted by BrenthovenWe mourn for days after a loss, puff out our chests for a week or more after we win. We brave the cold for tailgates, our friends know not to ask about the game after a tough loss, we laugh, we cry, we BLEED hockey, specifically the maroon'n'gold. Many of us have a tattoo waiting in the wings, WHEN (not IF) the Gophers are champions again.
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Re: Time to eliminate hitting from men's hockey
Originally posted by Tipsy McStagger View PostSpeaking of cheap shot hacks, how is Seeler doing?XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXX
The reason for the talent in the west? Because MN didn't rely on Canada.
Originally posted by MN Pond HockeyMenards could have sold a lot of rope
this morning in Grand Forks if North Dakota had trees.
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Originally posted by SanTropez View PostLicking his chops hoping to play jan brady U at the X this weekend."If you leave ignorance and stupidity alone, ignorance and stupidity will think it's ok."
-Gallagher
R.I.P.
Grandpa G. ~ Feb 11, 1918-Oct. 6, 1999
Grandma ~ Jan 2004
Dad ~ Nov. 4, 1958-April 21, 2008
Grandpa S. ~ June 21, 1932-November 11, 2013
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