How many of you here DID NOT play hockey growing up?

[2014olympicgold]

I did not take it as you talked down to me at all…I just find your opinion old school and quit wrong TBH….sounded a bit as it was coming from Don Cherry’s mouth…but it was not insulting just wrong to generalize like that…

I agree that some one new to certain sport could miss small details and make uninformed judgment but saying that u need to have played or watch with someone who did to be educated about the game is just not true…it Maybe harder, longer part but you can become an expert at something just by research and watching others and not necessarily by practice…TGIF is true in alll aspects of life…not just sports

If you're saying I'm generalizing the situation too much, then ok...Your situation of watching a sport for 43 yrs and not playing it once would be a very specific situation. And if we want to go down a rabbit hole, even you have watched the game with someone who's played it giving you information (all announcers, Dobber members, friends). But whatever, I'll stick to my stance in this situation (where the original poster has watched the sport, and doesn't think he knows the insight in the sport) where if you play the sport at some point in your life, you'll pick up more nuances of the sport (and I'm lumping getting it pointed out by someone who's played the sport) than just watching it on TV or in person even.

Another thing you can't pick up is locker room atmosphere, and relationships built through the locker room. Now this can be picked up by someone who has played any sport. But it is definitely something you can't watch...well legally you can't watch what happens in a locker room...Battling for a win for a goalie that's a rookie, injury replacement, or just a sub-talented goalie is huge in hockey. The whole team comes together and battles for everything to limit the scoring chances against to help the goalie get the win. It's strange how much the relationships between D and goalie are, and it's much different than the relationships between forwards and D, or Forwards and goalies.



OP, just keep watching the sport, listen to others, don't go off of what Boston Bruins announcers say (they are terribly biased), and have fun. Hockey is an amazing sport to watch, and I'd say it's the hardest team sport to master and the more you watch, the more you'll get the small things. You can have a situation in the game that won't happen for 30 games, so the more you watch the info you gather.

[Doug Glatt]

The only hockey I have played is on the Playstation and I am pretty good.
I grew up in Tennessee and back in the day we all played football; there was no youth hockey and the Preds were years away.
The Miracle on Ice in '80 was extraordinarily exciting. I watched every USA game on ABC with Al Michaels calling. That is when it began for me. I was 10.
Started watching Islanders games on Wide World of Sports after that.
Went to college at USC and this was when I attended my first NHL games. Gretzky had just been traded to the Kings. I am still a Kings fan 30 years later.
I watch a fair amount of games but I have learned more about hockey playing the EA NHL games.
I have not been on ice skates to this day. But the NHL is my favorite sport because nothing matches the speed and skill of this game.

[Invictus]

It's strange how much the relationships between D and goalie are, and it's much different than the relationships between forwards and D, or Forwards and goalies.

There's little things fans who haven't played the game will never think about.

I see goalie's taking the blame for goals skaters failed to cover the shot lane.
I know there's more/better examples, but I'm drawing a blank.
Going to go eat.

[LawMan]

I played growing up for about 8 years, mid-tier organized hockey. Nothing high level or travel team. Had fun though.
Our teams never had much structure or "systems" beyond the basics:
1. standard breakout (D-winger-centre)
2. PP -spread out and move the puck
3. PK- Box/Diamond.

I enjoyed the hell out of playing hockey but do not think my playing experience gave me a knowledge of the game that a beginner fan cannot pick up in 1-2 NHL seasons.
That being said when I talk to buddies who either played higher level (Junior "A" or better) they seem to pickup details I do not.

[Invictus]

At one point you could tell which Canadian goalies were taught in a Quebec system as they had a slightly different style.

[saucelife90]

There's little things fans who haven't played the game will never think about.

I see goalie's taking the blame for goals skaters failed to cover the shot lane.
I know there's more/better examples, but I'm drawing a blank.
Going to go eat.

Or when your own player is in the shot lane, blocking your view.

The blaming of a turnover on a winger at their own blueline, when the D-man is at fault for putting them in a tough situation with a bad pass.
Blaming the goalie for playing a dump-in, then misplaying it because the D doesn't give him an outlet and the forwards aren't backchecking, allowing pressure from the other team.
The "you should have had him" at the D-man in front of the net who's already paired up with a different forward while the C is floating around in la-la land.

[Wonko]

I played hockey growing up and I still play.

One of my favorite pastimes and a damn good workout for this 51 year old dinosaur.

If there is anything better than flying around the ice on skates I don't know what it is. hehe.

I hope to keep playing until my back finally gives out once and for all.

[TheMule_91]

I was born in Brantford Ontario and lived there until about 11 years old. I'd go on multiple field trips every winter to the Wayne Gretzky Sports Centre so I learned how to skate pretty well but my parents couldn't afford to buy new equipment every year or two so I played soccer instead.

I enjoyed playing soccer but part of me wishes I had the chance to play hockey.

[Bobby4Ever]

have played all 4 sports and nothing compares to being on skates taking that puck to the net! Have only played high school and mens leaugues or pick up games. The Gordie Howe sponsored league was the best! National tourney traveled to N.Y. for playoffs only to get beat in Finals by Arizona? haha.

Local rink was a 10 minute walk from my house as a kid. If I wasnt playing ice hockey then i would be going to public skating sessions on Friday and Saturday nites to impress the girls with my snowjobs! lol

We even went ice skating during school for recess instead of just hanging out in the school yard. Picture 2 or 3 Catholic nuns in full habit walking down the street with a bunch of 8th graders holding ice skates as the rink was a 5 min walk from the school. I think of that now and thank the Sister Superior who thought to allow us that awesome alternative.

[Bobby4Ever]

oh, DID NOT play, hmmm well nevermind

[niconasr]

Would have loved to play hockey as a kid but had a medical condition that kept me from playing any physical sport (not even kickball) until I was 12. At that point, I played mostly inside and never on skates as I still skates terribly.

As I loved sports at a young age, I watched a ton of it since I couldn't play it. Even now, I'm much more a watcher than player.

[Invictus]

Or when your own player is in the shot lane, blocking your view.

Communication is key and I'd always voice where I wanted my d-man to play.

Shot lane can be broken down to 3 lanes - left side, middle, and right side of the goalie.
Biggest holes are left and right lanes. 5-hole isn't as great and goalies can and often drop down (still leaving left and right).
Depending on what side of the ice the puck is on one of the lanes gets cut out by angles.

So I tell my D-man to stand on a side leaving me with the middle (easiest to cover) and the other side which if on an angle should already be cut out.
Stay out of the middle blocking my view
This gets messy in real time situations, but that's a basic of it.

[newfcollins]

Never played either. Can't even skate.

[Dr.Brad]

I’ve never played hockey, but season tix on the glass for 14 years… maybe that qualifies me as a fan.

I coached soccer for 7 years, then finally played that sport (coach’s league), so if there’s a 70+ league (soon), I could be interested. LOL

[hawkdog]

I didn't start playing organized hockey till I was 30ish.
morning hockey - semi organized girls and gals.
I didn't even know how to get on the ice.

grew up playing pond hockey and ball hockey - lived to far out of town