mathonwy wrote:Check this article out written by an anonymous hockey player.
You can definately tell this was written by a current player or someone who has played the game at a contact level for a significant amount of time.
I particularily like these quotes from the article...
A forward, in an effort to get a shot on net, might put himself off balance — in a vulnerable position, even though he sees a defenseman closing in on him quickly. The D-man drives through him sending him crashing awkwardly into the boards.
Personally, I see nothing wrong with that kind of hit. What players have always known intrinsically is when their opponent is "defenseless." In this situation, the forward is not "defenseless." He knows his opponent is coming and he knows full well what could happen if he tries to put a shot on net. He makes the choice and thus leaves himself vulnerable.
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It's unreasonable for me to expect that I can cut across the Toronto Maple Leafs blue line with my head down and not have Dion Phaneuf(notes) try to blast me. In that case, I'm not "defenseless"; I'm just asking for it. If I was playing against the Detroit Red Wings, I can't reasonably expect Niklas Kronwall(notes) to lay off me just because I'm fishing the puck out of my skates.
It is refreshing to hear some "ice level" perspective on hitting, vulnerability, etc, that is actually realistic and reminds the general public that hockey is a tough contact sport and players for the most part dictate their own "vulnerability" based on the type of game they want to play and decisions with the puck they make on the ice.
I for one certainly do not want to see the game get any softer, not even by a slight percentage, and this really is the key...
What I can expect — what I think is reasonable — is that those guys don't lead with their elbows and aim for my chin. (Which they don't.) Play me as hard as you want but show me some respect and I'll do the same for you. I think that's all that the majority of the players in league ask from each other.