The Game Can Be Played Without Fighting

from Andrew Podnieks at Slap Shot, Anyone who loves hockey knows that, at its best, the game is about speed and skill, about going from end to end exchanging glorious scoring chances, about great glove saves and lightning quick passes, breathtaking transition from defense to offense, big hits and pace that is nothing short of exhilarating. We have to look back only to February 2010 and the most recent Olympics in Vancouver, where the best players from the best hockey-playing nations competed before packed houses as well as millions of fans around the world.That was hockey the way it was meant to be played.

Consider also last year?s World Junior Championship in Buffalo. The best under-20 players in the world provided the same thrilling demonstration of the sport, playing with controlled physical energy that nonetheless verged on reckless while making scintillating plays and scoring highlight-reel goals.

International hockey punishes fighting, and as a result fights are rare. Players are able to check their emotions when a tournament is short and a medal for your country is on the line. But fans also know they are seeing the game at its best, and once a top international tournament is over, it?s pretty hard watching the N.H.L. for quite some time afterward.

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Source: http://www.kuklaskorner.com/index.php/hockey/comments/the_game_can_be_played_without_fighting/

Reegie Corona Juan Miranda Colin Curtis Kevin Russo Curtis Granderson Nick Johnson