Feature Story
Hockey: An easy game to play…from the stands
By Hal Tearse
Minnesota Hockey Coach-in-Chief
As the new year approaches, the
interest in watching hockey increases to a fever pitch. There are many
discussions in the stands about the various teams and the players. Many
definitive statements are uttered a loud, many of them wrong or unfair to the
players.
Hockey is very different than other team sports. It takes
a tremendous amount of physical and mental skills to play the game at all, much
less play well. Unlike the other team sports with set plays and rigid routes
and patterns, hockey is a flowing game with constant substitutions and endless
possibilities for play making.
We use a phrase “read and react” to communicate to players
that they must constantly observe the action around them and react accordingly.
No time to check with the offensive or defensive coordinator or have a timeout
huddle to diagram the last shot. Hockey is about constant movement up and down
the ice.
Parents and spectators who sit in the elevated stands
often cannot understand why “little Johnny” didn’t just lift the puck over the
fallen goalie to win the game. Or why the puck carrier didn’t pass off to a
teammate who was obviously in a better position to score. Or why that “stupid
coach put the wrong guys on the ice to kill off the penalty.”
The game is actually very much different the closer you
are to it. Up in the stands it looks pretty clear. From the player’s bench the
view is much different than from above, and on the ice the view is even
different again. The players do not see what you see. They have a much narrower
view in most cases and they are normally under the pressure of the competition.
As the game progresses, the players tire from the physical exertion and stress.
This all changes how they see the game. What you see is not always what they
see.
Another element to consider while you are sitting or
standing in the stands is the speed of the game on the ice. A top bantam and
high school player can skate at top speed from blue line to blue line in 1.9 to
2.2 seconds. That is 50 feet in about 2 seconds. If the skater is carrying the
puck through the neutral zone numerous split second decisions need to be made
and skills executed. Skating, stick handling, and passing skills are all
required here in those 2 seconds. Many of the decisions the players make are
right and many of them wrong. Sometimes the idea is correct but the skill to
accomplish the task is not quite there. In the context of the skills required
to play hockey, the fans and parents should recognize that what is happening on
ice is a remarkable combination of physical and mental skills coordinated into
a team effort. Celebrate their achievements, and ignore their failures.
As the tournaments commence in March, it will be fun to
see the terrific play at all levels as the teams advance towards their
respective playoffs. Whether or not your favorite team advances to the
tournaments, you must respect them all for the great talent, heart, and
dedication that they exhibit. Win or lose it is a great to compete.
Then the season will be over. The days will be longer, and
the wind will be warmer. We will hold onto the memories of the good times and
bad; the joy and the sorrow; the pain and the thrills. And we will look ahead
to the future with new dreams, new goals, and Championships yet to be won.
Remember that from the stands you see a very different game than what the
players see and experience. Give them the benefit of your support and goodwill.
Let’s Play Hockey wants to publish your hockey
stories. From tournament reports, to feature stories on teams, players or
coaches, to opinion pieces on the game of hockey, Let’s Play Hockey accepts
submissions from readers throughout the hockey community. To submit your hockey
story and/or photo(s), e-mail us at editor@letsplayhockey.com.