Fighting is/was an integral part of hockey. Protecting the goal used to be. The "powers that be" have "sissified" the game so that's it's nearly unwatchable for old timers like me. I grew up playing a very physical game, referees allowed the periods to speed by unless, a body check, hooking, tripping were really egregious. A good, solid retaliatory hit, even days after the "perceived" dirty hit were expected, required even. Today's game is much different from the earlier days. Sadly. Enforcers were on the ice to protect the usally speedy, small winger/ Now even a marginally illegal gets whistled down. Players are allowed to "camp" in front of the goal with little or no interference.
But, I still watch the Cup games, always hoping the League and the officials will let the boys simply play the game they learned on rivers and small, cold rinks in tiny towns across the Canada and a couple of the US's northen states. Still, thousands of people still fill the seats, watch the game on TV and such. And, money is the motivator these days.
Perhaps I'm simply a relic and pining for a fondly remembered time . . . long gone. I'm not knocking the wonderful skills of today's players. Just wishing the physical part of game hadn't nearly disappeared.
