Trying Hockey Out

[OldRightHander]

Originally Posted by westofyou

Barry Melrose and Mark Messier where on those teams (as was my fave Robbie Ftorek, who played briefly for my all time team the Red Wings initially)

I remember those guys pretty well, but it was just a matter of coincidence that I was looking in the paper for news on hockey and Liut was the first familiar name I noticed so I checked to see what team he played on. I guess if Messier would have been the first one I noticed, I probably would have not ended up following the Blues. It's interesting how those things happen.

[westofyou]

Originally Posted by traderumor

what is OLN? Outdoor Network? Not sure if we have that one here in Nerk, unless its a digital station. Guess I'll try to catch the Blue Jackets when they're on, although they are off to a poor start.

Channel 606 fro DirecTv folks.

I have the hockey package though, once baseball is over I'll probably watch 4-6 games a week.

Hence why I don't know who that running back for San Diego is or Jessica Biel.

[Cyclone792]

Originally Posted by Johnny Footstool

It really helps to know the players.

Playing video games, namely EA Sports NHL Hockey, helps you get to know the players and basically what they can do -- speedy goal scorers, slapshot experts, hard checkers, and thugs. Plus you get a feel for the rules and how the game works. That's what got me hooked on hockey back in the 90's. My interest has waned quite a bit lately, though.

You and I took the exact same path with following hockey. When I was a kid I never gave hockey any type of look whatsoever, but then for some reason I went out and bought a copy of NHL 95 for Sega Genesis and I just became hooked. The video game taught me who the players were, who the teams were, what most of the rules were, etc so I began following real life hockey a bit. Of course, without a local professional team my interest faded over time ... however ...

I later purchased NHL 97 for the PC and the same thing happened! I became reacquainted with the players and became really familiar with the rules. Shortly thereafter I started following the IHL's Cincinnati Cyclones and I was a fan of them until the IHL folded (the Cyclones were revived in the ECHL for a short time, but I couldn't get into them then).

Now with the NHL back and an expansion team in Columbus I may be able to get back into hockey for a third team and start following the Jackets. I haven't seen a hockey game on TV yet this season so it may be tough. I think what I may have to do is pick up a copy of NHL 2006 and that'd do the trick

[Cyclone792]

Originally Posted by Johnny Footstool

NHL '95 introduced me to Joe Niewendyk, Theo Fleury, and Big Al McInnis (best slapshot in the game). I still root for the Calgary Flames.

IIRC, Fleury was also probably the fastest guy in NHL 95 ... I swear he'd go the length of the ice in about two seconds.

[westofyou]

Originally Posted by Cyclone792

IIRC, Fleury was also probably the fastest guy in NHL 95 ... I swear he'd go the length of the ice in about two seconds.

Theo was quite the player back then in the real thing too, he used to cause quite a scene when he'd hit San Jose, the fans there hated him and he played them like a piano.

[Johnny Footstool]

IIRC, Fleury was also probably the fastest guy in NHL 95 ... I swear he'd go the length of the ice in about two seconds.

Niewendyk had a something like a 90 power and 95 accuracy. McInnis had a 99 power and 80 accuracy, plus a 90 checking. Fleury had a 99 speed and about an 80 checking, even though he was small. Calgary's #1 line was awesome.

I think Fedorov and maybe Bure had 99 speed, too, but I liked Fleury better.

[BuckU]

I am a big hockey fan, but I must admit, the new rules are brutal. There is absolutely NO physicality anymore. Penalties are called for simple shoulder checks into the boards and any scrums after the plays are quickly broken up. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t watch hockey to watch 2 guys who average 4:30 ice time per game slug it out after a face off, but I do like the hits and physicality. I truly love the offensive side of the game, but in the back of my mind I am always watching the big hits.

If the NHL wanted Euro-Hockey, they got it. They say that the new rules will promote rivalries. No so fast….rivalries are built on tough games and players playing with emotion. The first week there has been no emotion, no physical play, no heart. I agree with the shootout rule, the elimination of the red line, etc., I just can’t get over the way the games are being called.

I’m venting. I have been a lifelong hockey fan who remembers the glory days in the 80’s where you hated guys who wore the sweater of your rival. I know it’s only a week and most people would give it more time but I can’t help asking myself the question “I waited 1 ½ years for this?”

Hopefully all these anti-contact rules will die like the obstruction crackdown a few years ago. In the meantime, I’ll be wondering if hockey ever really came back….

If you are going to give hockey a chance, hope that in Decemeber things go back to the way they used to be, otherwise you are missing out on how great this game really is.

[OldRightHander]

Originally Posted by BuckU

I am a big hockey fan, but I must admit, the new rules are brutal. There is absolutely NO physicality anymore. Penalties are called for simple shoulder checks into the boards and any scrums after the plays are quickly broken up. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t watch hockey to watch 2 guys who average 4:30 ice time per game slug it out after a face off, but I do like the hits and physicality. I truly love the offensive side of the game, but in the back of my mind I am always watching the big hits.

If the NHL wanted Euro-Hockey, they got it. They say that the new rules will promote rivalries. No so fast….rivalries are built on tough games and players playing with emotion. The first week there has been no emotion, no physical play, no heart. I agree with the shootout rule, the elimination of the red line, etc., I just can’t get over the way the games are being called.

I’m venting. I have been a lifelong hockey fan who remembers the glory days in the 80’s where you hated guys who wore the sweater of your rival. I know it’s only a week and most people would give it more time but I can’t help asking myself the question “I waited 1 ½ years for this?”

Hopefully all these anti-contact rules will die like the obstruction crackdown a few years ago. In the meantime, I’ll be wondering if hockey ever really came back….

If you are going to give hockey a chance, hope that in Decemeber things go back to the way they used to be, otherwise you are missing out on how great this game really is.

[westofyou]

I think it will wear down after awhile, but it makes you wish for good Penalty teams on your side.

Which is the Wings strength, so currently all is working out well.

We'll see tonight.

[HotCorner]

Boy do the Capitals suck right now ... but I really like Alexander Ovechkin. He and Sidney Crosby are being compared to Gretzky and Lemieux. Hopefully they live up to the hype.

[Roy Tucker]

SI had their NHL edition a couple weeks ago. They had a summary of the changes that was good for laissez-faire hockey followers like me.

http://premium.si.cnn.com/pr/subs2/s...003/index.html

[Caveat Emperor]

Originally Posted by Johnny Footstool

NHL '95 introduced me to Joe Niewendyk, Theo Fleury, and Big Al McInnis (best slapshot in the game). I still root for the Calgary Flames.

NHL '95 for the Genesis was what first started me following the NHL as well. I'd always been a big fan of local minor league hockey, but the year that game came out coincided with my first trip to Pittsburgh with my father to watch a hockey game live. Later, when I started living in DC, I went to as many Capitals games as possible. I was present for their playoff run in 1998 -- and it's really impossible to describe the atmosphere of a playoff hockey game to someone who's never been there.

NHL '95 was great, except that you could put up insanely high scores by taking players with the puck right across the ice in front of the goalie and going top shelf, upper corner with a wrist shot as you skated by. Combining that with the front line of Mario Lemiuex, Ron Francis, and Jarmoir Jagr (all 99s) for the Pens, and you really could blow people out with ease

[Johnny Footstool]

NHL '95 was great, except that you could put up insanely high scores by taking players with the puck right across the ice in front of the goalie and going top shelf, upper corner with a wrist shot as you skated by.

The "wraparound" technique was equally effective. You skated behind one side of the net and paused for a moment, drawing the goalie and a defender to one side. Then when you skated around the back of the net, the confused defender stayed on the other side and blocked the goalie, leaving you an open net.

[Cedric]

Gooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo Canucks.