They have been very slow to react to every new problem they have encountered...They have shown that they usually eventually give in but its after people are talking about it.

They could fix a lot of this by making the schedule 60 games but they wont, so they have to do other stuff.
- Santo_44

This isn’t that big a deal. The way rules get called get adjusted as the year progresses. Matthews agent was smart to make some noise. Hopefully, they crack down on cross checking. There actually are other ways to deal with players in front of the net.

Of course, there’s a real danger fans might spontaneously start complaining if they were forced to watch non group B hockey.

Group A simply looks at the bigger picture

Group B has tunnel vision and wants to have their testosterone boosted with excitement when they see men get angry at each other, while ignoring the consequences

I guess there isnt a wrong answer here, whatever makes you happy. The NHL is group A though.
- Santo_44

Actually I think that’s what’s frustrating about the NHL... in some areas they’re group A and in others group B.... I don’t think it’s necessarily the style of play that infuriates people so much as it is the calls seem to bounce between one or the other throughout a game

There has always been two groups around here

You have:

Group A: we need rule changes/adjustments, call existing penalties more, etc.

And then there’s:

Group B: HIT THE MOTHER(frank)er BACK!
- Dozzer

AM is a big boy that can learn from Jumbo to take of biz himself. Is it too much to ask?

If you did both, then you're group B.

As long as you learn how to defend yourself, and took many beatings from the kids on the other side of town trying to defend their rink.

Here's the ODR in my hometown.. The roof wasnt on it when i was there, but it was still an awesome place to play

- Arctic_AARDVARK

our ODR was barely an rink.. There was no Zamboni driver... Just a older guy that would shovel all the excess snow off.

https://media0.giphy.com/media/Ua48yqUY0x5uM/giphy.gif?cid=6c09b952910a8a5cadbe27d3f35bf5d731cc3fea37ecaac2&rid=giphy.gif
- mr.sir

Let me help you

via GIPHY

This isn’t that big a deal. The way rules get called get adjusted as the year progresses. Matthews agent was smart to make some noise. Hopefully, they crack down on cross checking. There actually are other ways to deal with players in front of the net.

Of course, there’s a real danger fans might spontaneously start menstruating if they were forced to watch non group B hockey.
- Canada Cup

Yeah I just see zero point in allowing players to cross check like that, you can move players out of the way in other ways.

Just because there is 1 min left in the game you shouldn't be allowed to use your stick as a weapon directly on a players back.

AM is a big boy that can learn from Jumbo to take of biz himself. Is it too much to ask?
- Nighthawk

Tbh I think that was one of the main reasons joe was brought in... teach AM how to play as a big man at C

AM is a big boy that can learn from Jumbo to take of biz himself. Is it too much to ask?
- Nighthawk

It's not too much to ask.

It's stupid to ask.

We don't want our best player in the penalty box or on the LTIR.

Actually I think that’s what’s frustrating about the NHL... in some areas they’re group A and in others group B.... I don’t think it’s necessarily the style of play that infuriates people so much as it is the calls seem to bounce between one or the other throughout a game
- Dozzer

oh the consistency is awful, I can't pinpoint why that is...it could be some power hungry people making the decisions.

It's not too much to ask.

It's stupid to ask.

We don't want our best player in the penalty box or on the LTIR.
- Atomic Wedgie

the game changes and there is a pretty high chance Jumbo has hated the cross checks for his whole career lol.

They have been very slow to react to every new problem they have encountered...They have shown that they usually eventually give in but its after people are talking about it.

They could fix a lot of this by making the schedule 60 games but they wont, so they have to do other stuff.
- Santo_44

A lot of what?

The game is fine. It's far less dangerous to for the players now. They pretty much eliminated staged fights, head shots, and other dangerous plays. Hockey is a high pace physical sport. It's never going to be good enough for some, but i don't understand why someone would watch a sport if all they do is complain about the nature of it? No one i've ever played with, or people who can actually skate has ever said any of these things.

our ODR was barely an rink.. There was no Zamboni driver... Just a older guy that would shovel all the excess snow off.
- PatC80

At least you had a rink.

We just had an icy section of a highway.

Actually I think that’s what’s frustrating about the NHL... in some areas they’re group A and in others group B.... I don’t think it’s necessarily the style of play that infuriates people so much as it is the calls seem to bounce between one or the other throughout a game
- Dozzer

Really?

I would argue that the refs consistently allow that crap to happen in front of the net.

A lot of what?

The game is fine. It's far less dangerous to for the players now. They pretty much eliminated staged fights, head shots, and other dangerous plays. Hockey is a high pace physical sport. It's never going to be good enough for some, but i don't understand why someone would watch a sport if all they do is complain about the nature of it? No one i've ever played with, or people who can actually skate has ever said any of these things.
- Arctic_AARDVARK

Things can always be done to improve, always.

The game is changing constantly and new problems arise because of it, we need to be proactive and learn from our mistakes.

Cheers buddy! Should be a fun season!

- Scabeh

Thx bro 👍

Let’s enjoy a 1 off season Canadian division of rivalry.

Yeah I just see zero point in allowing players to cross check like that, you can move players out of the way in other ways.

Just because there is 1 min left in the game you shouldn't be allowed to use your stick as a weapon directly on a players back.
- Santo_44

that should fall on the refs though.. If a player cross checks someone in the back with one minute left, there should be a penalty called.

oh the consistency is awful, I can't pinpoint why that is...it could be some power hungry people making the decisions.
- Santo_44

That’s what I find annoying... the inconsistency... I mean cross check a guy in front of net? That’s fine. Cross check a guy in the exact same way while he’s waiting to enter your zone? Nope, off to the box you go.

Really?

I would argue that the refs consistently allow that crap to happen in front of the net.
- Atomic Wedgie

I tried to address that in another post... by inconsistency I mean guys can get away with stuff in front of the net that they can’t in other areas of the ice

that should fall on the refs though.. If a player cross checks someone in the back with one minute left, there should be a penalty called.
- PatC80

But for as long as I can remember the whistle has gone away in the final min....so what now? can refs be a little whistle shy on trips and little holds here and there? ok but what about the slashes and cross checks? Penalties that have high risk for injuries...I dont think the refs even know what they are doing.

I tried to address that in another post... by inconsistency I mean guys can get away with stuff in front of the net that they can’t in other areas of the ice
- Dozzer

Roger.

Agreed.

our ODR was barely an rink.. There was no Zamboni driver... Just a older guy that would shovel all the excess snow off.
- PatC80

I used to volunteer at this rink. Ive shoveled the entire thing after a snow storm by myself numerous times. I had a key to the community center, and would spend sometimes all my free time after school there. They had a walk-behind flooder, then i think eventually they bought a used zamboni.

It's a great place. Callander doesnt have an indoor rink, so the kids played hockey in Astorville, a small community 15 mins away. So they beefed up the ODR to give the town a little more pride. I think they put the roof on with the intention of turning it into an indoor rink.

That’s what I find annoying... the inconsistency... I mean cross check a guy in front of net? That’s fine. Cross check a guy in the exact same way while he’s waiting to enter your zone? Nope, off to the box you go.
- Dozzer

Yup its simple, use your body and move him.

And if you cant because the forward is better than you? Tough poop, get better players to defend your net then.

Really?

I would argue that the refs consistently allow that crap to happen in front of the net.
- Atomic Wedgie

Agreed.

Well sometimes they'll call one out of the blue because a player fell on the ice in a weird way.

Introducing a penalty called “cross checking” would probably ruin the game.
- Canada Cup

I agree that cross checking has been all too long a part of the game & needs a fix. I also don’t like how often players turtle & show their numbers. Body checks instead of cross checks in the boards should be the focus. Slashing & cross checking are my peeves.

Things can always be done to improve, always.

The game is changing constantly and new problems arise because of it, we need to be proactive and learn from our mistakes.
- Santo_44

Sometimes i wonder if theres Aussies who watch AFL or rugby who constantly complain about the nature of the sport.

I really don't understand the desire to always change the sport.