Re: UNH Wildcats 2016-17 Vol II -- We Do Have a Hockey Season Here!?!
Chuck, I'm right there with you on your main point about goalie equipment being out of control at this point. But I've seen you make a point similar to the quoted a couple of times now and I have to say that's just not true. Guys today shoot the puck MUCH harder today than anyone did back in ye olden days. It's just a simple matter of physics and engineering. The only similarity between a hockey stick from the 60s and 70s and a hockey stick today is the name. The flex, where the flex is specifically in the shaft, the techniques to use that flex, it's completely night and day from wooden sticks.
It's as if MLB decided to allow aluminum bats and someone still said "well no one hits the ball any harder than Mickey Mantle did." It's not even an apples to apples comparisons because of the materials and engineering involved. Same with saying the guys today don't drive a golf ball any harder with the composite clubs than Jack Nickalus did with his old hickory, or whatever actual wood it was, driver.
I understand the science, EJ. I can't find the original article either, but in 1968 apparently Bobby Hull's slapshot was clocked at 118.3 MPH. You can argue with the methodology if you choose - as does this author - or you can say, take 10% off that figure, and it's right there with the best of the modern era. And I'm guessing in 1968, he wasn't using the banana-blade stick that terrorized the league at the start of his career a decade earlier anymore.
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/699528-nhl-25-hardest-slap-shots-in-the-history-of-hockey
The truth of the matter is also that the slapshot is more prevalent in today's hockey. You grew up around here, so you no doubt had the pleasure of listening to former B's color analyst Johnny Pierson lecturing the masses for decades about his disdain for the slapshot, in large part because it was new and outside of his experience as a player. Now almost everyone uses the slapshot, so yeah, just the fact there are more players who use it, they will have better technique and better speed now even if it was with the same technology. But it doesn't mean there might not have been a statistical outlier or anomaly with Hull's speed. The guy was an incredible physical specimen in his prime, and this was a prominent, independent publication who came up with the measurement. So it's a little more credible than pure legend IMO.
For the record ... I'm fine with the new sticks, 'cuz as far as I'm concerned, the goalies got to keep up with lighter equipment, which allows them to be quicker and more mobile ... if they choose to be. The excess padding is pure overkill, and discourages the added athleticism.
If goalies want to keep their "Michelin Man" excess baggage, then raise the crossbar and eliminate any restrictions on blade curvature. The fans behind the goals are all protected these days, ditto the goalies. Put shields/cages on all players, and test it a year in the AHL or ECHL.
