Another weekend of playoffs...and more messes

Gang, when we last left off I was railing about playoff fiasco's...and sure enough it has struck all over again.

This past weekend we were in the heat of the playoff season with every game being crucial. I had a Crucial Game 5 in a Midget AA series...a Jr. C game 3 in Embrun...a deciding AAA game, and another AAA game where a player went head first into the boards trying to make his hit that he gave himself a potential spinal (oh...and a 40 minute delay). I hope the player is ok...no one ever wants to see an injury...but it was a pressure packed weekend for sure.

However, these were all competitive teams with significantly more discipline than their houseleague comrades. This weekend we had not 1, but 2, 9.6 calls. For those not into the Hockey Canada Rulebook lingo, that means the officials were physically abused or harrassed. I'm sorry...did I just say 2!! Yup...you got it! It is just indicative of the lack of composure and discipline of players that they are willing to do anything NEARING this, let alone actually to sock an official. Further, we had a full line brawl and several other suspendable offences. It's amazing that there are any players left to play!!

My point in all this is that we all watch the NHL and see the level of physicality that is used at that level during playoffs. The NHL is a world of professional hockey playing machines, predicated on entertainment, and fueled by money and TV ratings...very different from minor OR junior hockey for sure. However, the expectation is that the officials in our rinks are going to relent in the penalty calls and "let the teams sort it out". There are times when this strategy can work and the hockey is entertaining and engaging...but in most cases it results in frustration and anger because the players SAY that they want it, but don't understand how this is a 2 way street and that the other team will be pushing the enveloppe just as hard. As a result, both teams feel like the other is getting away with "dirty play" (the word used by a coach this weekend to describe his game). This is no good. Once again the NHL does little to advance minor hockey, to develop the social skills of teamwork, respect, and fun that it is supposed come from organized sport, and leave children, parents, officials, and administrators thoroughly exhausted.

While playoffs can be fun, we need to step back for a second and concentrate on what really makes hockey great...is it winning at all costs? To what end? I think hockey has more going for it...but this so often lost and obscured by playoffs that we lose sight.

Just my two cents...but what do I know.

Bruce