In Maryland, high school ice hockey is not an official school sport. This makes some sense, because it is expensive and not that many people play. Some people have tried to argue and make petitions that it should be a school sponsored sport. I think that is impractical. However, I think the school system should be involved somewhat in running the league.
Maryland high school hockey is currently run by the Maryland Scholastic Hockey League (MSHL.) It is a very flawed organization, for the following reasons:
1. The commissioner, and the majority of the board members have an affiliation with one of the teams. For example, the commisioner of the league blair is in was the Richard Montgomery Coach.
2. The way that play-off eligibility is determined makes no sense. They have created a complicated formula that compares teams from different leagues that play completely different teams, and they are supposed to race against eachother to get into the play-offs. However, the leagues are not at all comparable, so it is stupid to have them compete for the same play-off spots. The standings look like this: https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B_iaVIlkq2dva2t3RDJ4Rms1Y0k/edit?pli=1
3. They are terrible at scheduling games. The time almost always changes from the original, and the games can be as late as 9:50 p.m. Also, this year, we had a weeknight game in Hagerstown at 8:00 p.m., which got us home at midnight.
4. Finally, we had a player suspended this year. MSHL said the length of the suspension was pending a hearing, which would be given within 30 days. This occured on December 21st, 2012. They still haven't scheduled a hearing.
Showing posts with label hockey. Show all posts
Showing posts with label hockey. Show all posts
Sunday, March 3, 2013
Sunday, January 6, 2013
The NHL is Back
Today the NHL announced that play will resume on January 18th.
It's good that the NHL didn't lock out the whole season because then they would be the only professional sport to have ever locked out an entire season, and they would've done it 3 times. That's a hat trick's worth, the hockey player's SI unit for amount of things.
However, the NHL didn't really dodge a bullet on this one because they still locked out half the season, and they still have some serious issues to deal with in the actual league. They need to figure out how to control the violent adn dangerous hits that are endagering the league's stars. In the last lockout they opened up the game and allowed skilled players to showcase their talents better, but I'm pretty sure no rule changes were made this year.
If the NHL is going to keep the interest of the nation that is has had for the last couple years, it needs to better protect it's stars. Whatever way they choose to do it, the dangerous hits have to go. But let's leave this issue for another time and for now just be happy. After all, the NHL is back.
It's good that the NHL didn't lock out the whole season because then they would be the only professional sport to have ever locked out an entire season, and they would've done it 3 times. That's a hat trick's worth, the hockey player's SI unit for amount of things.
However, the NHL didn't really dodge a bullet on this one because they still locked out half the season, and they still have some serious issues to deal with in the actual league. They need to figure out how to control the violent adn dangerous hits that are endagering the league's stars. In the last lockout they opened up the game and allowed skilled players to showcase their talents better, but I'm pretty sure no rule changes were made this year.
If the NHL is going to keep the interest of the nation that is has had for the last couple years, it needs to better protect it's stars. Whatever way they choose to do it, the dangerous hits have to go. But let's leave this issue for another time and for now just be happy. After all, the NHL is back.
Monday, November 19, 2012
Lessons from Raleigh
This weekend, my travel hockey team went to Raleigh, NC to play two games against the Raleigh Storm. We tied both games 5-5, and 3-3. Although they were just exhibition games, they got very intense. They included a couple large scrums in front of the net and a lot of heavy hitting. However, as we were leaving, a we walked by a couple of the players from the other team. They gave us high fives and told us we played well. We talked to them for a little while and they said they would see us in a couple of weeks when they came up to play us.
We left feeling satisfied with how we had played, but even more, who we had played. One of the things that I love about hockey is that in general the people who play it are descent and kind, and they respect their opponent more than in most other sports. I find it incredible that players can go at each other, often brutally for an hour and a half, and then afterwards, act like old friends.
As we were leaving, they jokingly called after us, "We love you." We laughed and called back. But I realized that although it was a joke, it was kind of true. Our mutual love for the sport creates a bond that can survive the vicious things we did to each other during the game.
We left feeling satisfied with how we had played, but even more, who we had played. One of the things that I love about hockey is that in general the people who play it are descent and kind, and they respect their opponent more than in most other sports. I find it incredible that players can go at each other, often brutally for an hour and a half, and then afterwards, act like old friends.
As we were leaving, they jokingly called after us, "We love you." We laughed and called back. But I realized that although it was a joke, it was kind of true. Our mutual love for the sport creates a bond that can survive the vicious things we did to each other during the game.
Thursday, October 11, 2012
How the NHL Lockout Could be a Blessing in Disguise
The impending NHL lockout, which will be the second in the last ten years and the third under Gary Bettman as commissioner, has angered many fans of the NHL, including myself. However, if the powers that be in the NHL were smart, this lockout could be a blessing in disguise. Let me explain.
In 2004, after the lockout, the NHL decided changed the rules slightly to try and allow the highly skilled players to better use their offensive talent. They legalized the "two-line pass," allowing for more explosive transitions from defense to offense. They instructed referees to enforce a zero-tolerance policy regarding hooking, tripping, holding, and other stick infractions, allowing offensive players to have more time and space with the puck, and creating more power plays. They also added the shootout at the end of regular season tied games to add some excitement to the games and showcase the skills of the league's budding stars.
Ever since the lockout in 2004, the NHL has been growing in popularity. This is partially because of the new rules allowing for more high-scoring games, but it's partially because of the sheer talent present in the NHL currently. Now, I don't want to open up a huge argument over whose better than who, but I think we can all agree that the influx of players such as Crosby, Malkin, Stamkos, Ovechkin, the Sedin twins, Kane, Datsyuk, Nash, Brown, Girouz, Alfredson, and many more have made the game incredibly fun to watch.
However, if the league doesn't act quickly, it could lose some of the stars that have increased the sport's popularity. For example, on Januray 5th, 2011, Sydney Crosby, arguably the most talented player in the league currently, suffered a season ending concussion due to a hit by Victor Hedman of the Tampa Bay Lightning. Another example came in the 1st round of the 2012 playoffs when Carl Hagelin of the New York Rangers through Senators captain Daniel Alfredson a vicious elbow, forcing him to leave the game early and sit the next three play-off games. I've embedded the video of the hit:
After this year's lockout, the NHL must take steps to protect their stars. That means cracking down hard on elbows to the head and hits with malicious intent. Some argue that it is hard to tell whether there is a malicious intent in a hit or not, and so the league has been soft and inconsistent. However, some hits are clearly malicious, such as the one I've embedded below of Boston's Zdeno Chara hitting Montreal's Max Pacioretty. Chara was not suspended for the hit.
If you watch it closely, you'll notcice how long the puck was gone before the hit was thrown, and what a vunerable position Pacioretty was in.
In conclusion, if the NHL wants to keep gaining popularity after this year's lockout, they'd better take some steps to protect the men who provide the popularity.
In 2004, after the lockout, the NHL decided changed the rules slightly to try and allow the highly skilled players to better use their offensive talent. They legalized the "two-line pass," allowing for more explosive transitions from defense to offense. They instructed referees to enforce a zero-tolerance policy regarding hooking, tripping, holding, and other stick infractions, allowing offensive players to have more time and space with the puck, and creating more power plays. They also added the shootout at the end of regular season tied games to add some excitement to the games and showcase the skills of the league's budding stars.
Ever since the lockout in 2004, the NHL has been growing in popularity. This is partially because of the new rules allowing for more high-scoring games, but it's partially because of the sheer talent present in the NHL currently. Now, I don't want to open up a huge argument over whose better than who, but I think we can all agree that the influx of players such as Crosby, Malkin, Stamkos, Ovechkin, the Sedin twins, Kane, Datsyuk, Nash, Brown, Girouz, Alfredson, and many more have made the game incredibly fun to watch.
However, if the league doesn't act quickly, it could lose some of the stars that have increased the sport's popularity. For example, on Januray 5th, 2011, Sydney Crosby, arguably the most talented player in the league currently, suffered a season ending concussion due to a hit by Victor Hedman of the Tampa Bay Lightning. Another example came in the 1st round of the 2012 playoffs when Carl Hagelin of the New York Rangers through Senators captain Daniel Alfredson a vicious elbow, forcing him to leave the game early and sit the next three play-off games. I've embedded the video of the hit:
After this year's lockout, the NHL must take steps to protect their stars. That means cracking down hard on elbows to the head and hits with malicious intent. Some argue that it is hard to tell whether there is a malicious intent in a hit or not, and so the league has been soft and inconsistent. However, some hits are clearly malicious, such as the one I've embedded below of Boston's Zdeno Chara hitting Montreal's Max Pacioretty. Chara was not suspended for the hit.
If you watch it closely, you'll notcice how long the puck was gone before the hit was thrown, and what a vunerable position Pacioretty was in.
In conclusion, if the NHL wants to keep gaining popularity after this year's lockout, they'd better take some steps to protect the men who provide the popularity.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)