Hockey Chat:  You don’t hear of penalties given for blocking the goalies view even though they hate when someone stands in front of them “screening” and then a puck trickles in unseen.  There is no rule in the rule book about that therefore it’s an OK tactic.  The goalie would like to make up that rule but if everyone got to write up their own rules for the book the game would be a mess.

Hockey Chat:  With the NHL expansion in the late 1960s and the emergence of skilled players like Wayne Gretzky, enforcers became more common.  Their role was to try to knock those skilled guys on the other team off of their game.  The enforcers were poor at nearly everything else because their main role was to hunt down the good guy and get ‘em and they spent their ice time doing just that.

Hockey Chat: There is a main component of hockey skates that is ultimately most important but always over looked.  The laces.  Without them you have a wobbly unresponsive skate. But when tightened you have a controlled skate that is inline and reacts to you.  Skates only work if under control.

Hockey Chat:  Many penalties in a hockey game aren’t just blatant attacks from the opponent for no reason. Often there was a little something more to the story. There was some bad blood built up along the way. That’s why most fights happen later in the game. The emotions are boiling over and they give in. In many penalties, the one who loses control is the one who makes is anger apparent and gets called for it.

Hockey Chat:  Some of the greatest games began with a good ol’ locker room pep talk.  It was a talk by the coach or team captain.  It was the motivation to start the team off on the strong foot and carry them through the game.  Sure the team could’ve went out there and played the game without the words of wisdom, but the outcome may not have been the same.

Hockey Chat:  You take the time to lace up the skates just right.  You got the good stick with the perfect curve.  You have the essential pads and you’re set to go.  You spring off the bench and over the boards and then just coast around.  Is it too much work to skate hard?  Well then what’s the point of coming to the game if you didn’t come to play to win?  Is someone else suppose to pick up the puck and score the goals?  You need to play to win.

Hockey Chat:  There are some games that I go away from the ice not knowing the score but confident that I tried with all my heart, stayed in it through all the bumps, and skated hard until it was over.  To me I felt like I had won.  I did everything I could and did my best.  You know those games.  You go away a winner, not caring about the final score.

Hockey Chat:  The game of hockey is captivating.  It’s easy to get in the zone and get caught up with the game.  Sometimes we get so enthralled we forget we have other players to pass to or we are running so high that when someone gives us a bump we take it as a personal attack.  To win the game you have to play the game.  When the focus moves from the game to you, both will lose.  Professional players that try to be the lone-ranger hot-dogs are not needed on any team.  Pro players that take dumb penalties are sent somewhere else where they can’t hurt the team by sending the rest of the guys out there short handed so often.

Hockey Chat:  When a hockey player pulls that jersey over his head, he takes on a different identity.  He may be a great guy and friend to all, but to the opponent he is now the enemy and they have to stop him.  He can’t be in the game, play on his team, and be loved by the other team.  He has an identity with the team he is on and that stirs adversity with the opposition.

Hockey Chat:  We’ve all had the dreams of playing in the big leagues at sometime in our lives.  For most of us, we’ve taken a different road in life but we are still grateful to be skating.  So what if we never made it.  We still love the game and enjoy playing it.

Hockey Chat:  Wood, aluminum, carbon composite, fiberglass.  Hockey sticks are made up of all kinds of different materials.  It takes time and practice, but once you find YOUR stick, you know it and use it with confidence. You puck handle and shoot the best you can with your stick.  Have you ever broke a stick and had to grab a different one quickly.  Right off the bat you know it’s not going to work well.  Your not use to it.  It’s not yours.

Hockey Chat:  Oh the skates!  A premium fitted boot with a sharp blade can have you moving across the ice with fancy footwork. Try a loose boot with a dull blade.  You’re better off playing barefoot.  Having a fitted skate gives you peace of mind knowing that you can get where you want to go confidently.  If you tell your feet to move, you’ll dig in the ice and make the play.