The Big Change

When you work in this business and have four kids, boys and girls, you end up seeing hockey played at many different levels.

So far this season, I've seen GTHL action from atom to midget, major junior hockey, private school hockey involving teams in Canada and the U.S., girls midget and junior hockey and, of course, the NHL.

It's not a comprehensive survey, but its a decent one.

One of the common denominators between all of these levels struck me a last week while watching the Oshawa Generals play the Belleville Bulls.

Nobody hooks anybody anymore. Few players even try.

To anyone who watched the sport prior to 2004, this has been one of the most extraordinary developments in the fastest game on ice.

Back then, and really from about the early 1980s to the early part of this century, using the stick to restrain and interfere with an opponent, whether he or she actually had the puck or not, was as common as shooting and passing.

It was just how the game was played. The final game of the 1987 Canada Cup between Canada and the Soviet Union was one of the greatest ever played, but watching it recently revealed a style of hockey that just doesn't exist any more, which was to constantly jab, hook and hack at the opponents hands and arms to dislodge the puck and defend against the attack.

It was a style that tricked down to every level of hockey, as most things done by the best in the world do.

Hooking was an absolute blight on the sport, a low-brow means by which the less talented could even the playing field.

And it's gone. Or at least, on the rare occasion it occurs now, it's generally penalized. Even putting your stick parallel to an opponent can mean a penalty.

Go out and watch kids play. While there are other things to be concerned about - certainly hitting from behind remains a major issue - the absence of hooking and, to a large degree, interference, has opened the game up at every level.

In the NHL, it has resulted in a level of speed evident in most games that it's breathtaking.

So who gets credit for this? Well, I'm not sure whose idea it was, but you have to give the lion's share of the credit to Gary Bettman's administration. Colin Campbell and Mike Murphy were the ones who administered the policy, but the commissioner had to go along with it, and to a large degree, so did the players through the competition committee.

Once they took it out of the NHL, every other level followed, just as would be the case if they ever decided to enforce tougher rules on head shots, hitting from behind, stick infractions and fighting.

But getting the hooking out has changed the game, and made it much, much better at every level. You may not like the penalties, but you have a game that is more reflective of the actual skill level of the players rather than the way in which they can bend the law.

Bettman doesn't get credit for much outside of the business of the game.

But he was the leader of the NHL, and this all happened under his watch.

Comments

[StuartLittle]

What the...praising Bettman? Who kidnapped Damien?

[Moe Green]

Eliminate fighting in the NHL in concert with a new "dangerous hits," "head shot" or "intent to injure" penalty. If a hit is deemed an "intent to injure" it should be an automatic five, ten or even twenty minute penalty - with no substitutions. Additionally, there could be league discipline meted out after the fact. You could also force the offending team to do without that player on the roster during the suspension. Finally, the offending player should be suspended until the injured player is deemed ready to play up to a league maximum of say 40 games. Any attempts to erroneously extend a players injured status would result in the team being harshly penalized. Do these things, and the cheap shots would be eliminated overnight.

[Drew]

It is certainly true that youth hockey emulates NHL. The kids watch Hockey Night in Canada, and strive to meet their standards, or at least their style of play depending on skill/age level.
I have also noticed the reduction in hooking incidents, which was mandated through the youth organizations (and reffs) down from the major leagues.
If they were to follow this policy with hitting from behind, and fighting I am sure you would see fewer incidents in the youth leagues as well.

[Tabber]

Question about the last 2 comments - isn't punching someone attempting to injure them? Could this logic be used right now to stop fighting, if that is desired? Not coming down on either side (don't like the "pre-arranged" fights between enforcers, but honest fights due to frustration seem to be more a part of the game), just asking aren't the tools available within the existing rules?

[Giovanni Di Iorio]

The NHL would be PERFECT if they only got rid of the darn shootouts, and maybe extend overtime until someone scores. All in all, the game is great to watch, especially live.

[kwilson]

I don't think Bettman deserves the credit. It seems to me they tried to do the same thing a few times only to lose interest and fall back to the old standards half way through the year. I would say Brendan Shanahan deserves the most praise for getting the players onside during the lockout. I'm not a big fan of Shanahan, but I think he's the one that deserves the lion's share of the credit.

[Matt]

I know Damien has his haters, but this has the best blog on hockey by far. This is the type of article that might not get into the paper but is perfect for the blog world as its really about creating a conversation and dialogue. Keep it up.

[Marijan Kalman]

"Nobody hooks anybody anymore" are you serious or you are just writing article for The Star.
Last night I was watching 2&3 period Detroit at Dallas with my friend who is hockey referee.
All what Dallas players where doing is hook, interfere and hold Detroit players.Dallas had 14 hooks, 17 holdings and 9 interferences!
Guess how many was called.NONE.It is same like before, only thing that changed is that hook,hold is happening in neutral zone and they force you outside where defender interferes with your forward progress.
90% of teams are doing this same thing.
Nothing is ever going to change until referees start calling game buy the rules.

[FRT]

You drinking the "Bettman Kool-aid" too now Damien...?

Under Bettman's watch...the NHL has become the most violent blood sport on the face of the earth...with more serious injuries...face plants...head crushing...spine breaking...eyes poked out...broken bones...and blood spilled then at anytime in the history of the sport! Dirty dangerous head shots and hits from behind have become the new norm. I'll take a little hook or grab any day then the carnage that is being displayed these days by a blood lust sport with assaults happening nearly every play. BETTMAN IS THE MOST INCOMPETENT IDIOT EVER TO RUN A SPORTS LEAGUE AND THE NHL IS NOTHING BUT A BIG JOKE OF A RULE-LESS VIOLENT SPORTS LEAGUE!

So keep drinking the "kool-aid" Damien.