Red Wings fans, sorry. This is for anyone within walking distance of an outdoor youth ice rink with a warming house. Don’t know what an outdoor warming house is? I warned you it was futile to enter this thread.
So my great and wonderful city landed the lion’s share of the World Junior Championship games, with all exhibition games being played around the area.
This truly is big in the world of hockey. These are kids either already playing for NCAA colleges and/or drafted by the NHL. Added to the rosters are kids looking to make a name for themselves to get international recognition. (When I say kids, I mean between the ages of 16 and 19. Sometimes 20 under some circumstances.)
Now, let’s look at the area hosting these kids. Last year the US finished [4[Sup]th[/sup]. The US wants some retribution. Kids from up here, south to Fargo, west to Minot and SE to the Cities learn to skate about the same time they learn to walk.
And NW Minnesota? Forget it, those kids skate before they feed. It’s kinda freaky.
One of the big things in hockey is good hits. As violent as the reputation is, it usually isn’t a barroom brawl. There are good hits that every player trains for. Taking them as well as giving them. As long as it isn’t a cheap shot or malicious, it’s a hockey hit. Play goes on.
Sometimes the tempers flare though, and teams have to let out some frustration. It’s hockey and every 8 year old, even though taught to play clean, knows that at times you have to use a little muscle against a player pushing the boundaries of sportsmanship.
So last night Belarus played Slovakia in an exhibition game. Professionals representing thier countries, and they played hockey. If you want to see the video reoprt from the local ABC affiliate, watch it [url=http://www.wdaz.com/]here](http://www.canadianhockey.ca/e/teams/mens/junior/2003/). It may only be up for a few more hours, but if you search video for hockey fight, you may find it.
Anyway, during the game, the adult professionals representing thier countries…oh no!..got in a fight. They got in a fight! 2 Slovakian players were taken to the hospital (broken bones) and later released.
Big deal, right? Right. That’s what everyone I know thought. And what ANYONE that follows hockey would know under these circumstances.
In case you didn’t see the video, here’s what pisses me off. The fucking TV crew from WDAZ found the 3 shiteating-let’s-not-keep-score-at-soccer-game types to bemoan the violence the children saw from thier heroes. The guys they look up to.
THE GUYS THEY’VE NEVER SEEN BEFORE NOR WILL LIKELY EVER AGAIN!!!
These testimonials made up the total of maybe 30 people out of the 650,000 in the state, but they got the soundbites.
If this is the pool of parents raising future hockey players, I hope hockey just dies and we take up rugby.
Fucking pussy parents trying to get a kid into a real sport then whining about the chance of contact.
I hope this made some sense. I am really fucking pissed about this shit.
