Dumb Traditions

It was interesting how the bench incident in the Canada-U.S. game on New Year's Eve just sort of disappeared.

Canada, knowing Chris DiDomenico was taunting the U.S. bench after a goal just as Jimmy Hayes had done the same to the Canadian bench earlier, certainly didn't want any investigation, one that might have got Stefan Della Rovere suspended for his actions.

The U.S. meanwhile, didn't want tournament officials trying to figure out with American player on the bench stuck his stick in DiDomenico's face. That player might also have been suspended.

So both countries chose silence, and the tournament directorate just let it vanish. Fair enough, I suppose. Rick Nash was once able to hook a referee with his stick in an IIHF tournament and get away with it.

But here's one issue worth exploring. Where in the world did this dopey tradition of a parade to the bench for high fives all around after every goal begin?

It's childish. Watching NHL players do it like they were peewee players is laughable. What ever happened to the great tradition of the game in which a goal was scored, there would be a celebration near the net, and then they'd just line up and drop the puck again?

Having teams skate right in front of the opponents bench after a goal is simply taunting on a team-wide scale. Moreover, in a heated game, you're just asking for trouble. Basically, you're allowing teams to celebrate twice - once in a little hug session, once with a fly-by for high fives at their bench.

It's the dumbest tradition in hockey, and hockey doesn't need this stupidity. Bobby Orr never did it. The great Oiler teams of the 1980s never it. Where it came from isn't clear, but I wish it would disappear as fast as it came.

Comments

[Adrian]

Oops - I take back the comment about Mr. Cox not writing about the blowouts at the juniors...He did write about them. Just not under the pretense of sportsmanship.

[Adrian]

In general, I agree with the fact that teams could tone down the celebration to speed up the game. However, I don't think it's at all unsportsmanlike to gather with the guys on the ice, and then skate DIRECTLY to your bench to get some high 5's from your team (which is what happens 95% of the time). In this case, the sportsmanship was lost when the Canadian/US players not only skated too close to the opposing bench but were STILL celebrating while doing so. So let's take this ridiculous nonsense about scrapping 'extra' celebrations because they are unsportsmanlike.

However, in all fairness, these are teenagers with their countries' flag on their jersey. There's a bit of emotion involved there don't you think? I mean, each of these kids is giving up their holidays to play hockey for their country. You can bet the last 4 gold medals that Damien Cox and every other writer in Canada would have a field day if these kids didn't bring home #5, so cut them some slack.

Mr. Cox - if you want to write about something with some sense of logic behind it - how about the ridiculousness of having GOALS FOR/AGAINST used as a tie breaking mechanism...I'm sure it's wonderful for the Kazakhs and Germans to get annihilated under the guise of "tie breaking".

[kushiro]

Since when is a little rhetorical exaggeration "telling lies"? No need to throw around accusations. Many NBA players do celebrate routine baskets with some pretty over-the-top behaviour.

Of course I'm not suggesting that the players should "check with the referee" before celebrating. But is it too much to expect them to recognize on their own when something calls for a pat on the back as opposed to a big whoop and a ride on their sticks?

About 9 years ago I made a summit at 17,700 feet. I was excited; I jumped up and down and high-fived my friends. I don't do that every time I climb the stairs (I wish I could, but these days I'm too exhausted. Plus I could fall down them).

If you make everything into a big deal, then nothing is a big deal.

[Paul]

I always thought type of celebration is just plain silly and ridiculous and would just be a passing fad. However it has now become a fixture after every goal in Junior and now common place in the NHL. Times change as do fads. This is one fad I hope disappears soon, but unlikely.

But hey fighting in hockey is also stupid and NOT part of the game, but is accepted. Too bad intelligence, sportsmanship and common decency can't be legislated into hockey.

I guess I am just getting old (48) and have different standards than today's selfish "me first" generation.

[Peter]

Spence,
are yoou totally blind or just so ignorant that simply don't bother to look at the replay? the american player clearly turned his stick and stuck it into the face of DiDomenico. i hope one day you get a stick into your face like that...
and i guess you Sens are not diving good enough?

[Maxie]

Agree 100% Damien - and have for a long time. The 2nd most offensive, nauseating classless act is the 'dropdown and slide on one knee and swoop down with the arm' manouvre. To see Tavares do this in a meaningless, exhibition game blow-out about said it all. Even BEFORE he later skated by the bench for the obligatory 15-man high-five. Hull, Yzerman and Sakic, where art thou??

ps you have an uncanny knack for bringing the mouh-breathing Neanderthals out of the woodwork. It's a funny sideshow. Keep it up!

[Matt]

While I agree that the team that just scored the goal should not parade in front of the opposing team's bench - and an unsportsmanlike penalty should be metted out to anyone who does otherwise - there's nothing wrong with making a pass of your own bench after a goal. Just because they didn't do it in "the old days" doesn't mean it's wrong. It's really not hurting anyone, and if teams want to allow their players to do it, who cares?

And while I don't agree with parading in front of the opposing team's bench, here's some food for thought: when the US player scored to make it 3-0 Canada, did he not purposely parade in front of the Canadian bench to taunt them? Does anyone else remember what happened in the few minutes immediately following that? Maybe it was a blessing in disguise?

[Matt]

I don't believe you should taunt anyone after scroing butI really like seeing players on the bench get excited and have the ability to congratulate the players who scored. Its a team game and i think its great when teams can celebrate. let them high-five, but make sure players stay away from the opposing bench.

[Adrian]

Maxie - why is that 'manoeuvre' classless? I mean, ANY kind of celebration done in front of the opposing team is pretty unsportsmanlike - but the celebration itself is just a form of celebration. I don't see how it in itself is classless...

I agree that doing it in a blow out is kind of ugly, but to Tavares' defence - I think he does the same thing every time he scores a goal.

[Tabber]

Hey, if you're that insecure in and of yourself, then I guess you need to self-justify and celebrate like crazy. Seems to me that the really good players don't do this sort of thing - Barry Sanders didn't celebrate, just handed the ball to the official, and he wasn't too bad a player. But if you need to do this, or to justify it, then you have my sympathy, and I hope that you eventually get enough self-confidence that you don't need to do this. It's okay, really, you are good enough to belong, without having to show off to all and sundry. Maybe these adulated athletes that tend to go overboard need to have a little session with Tony Robbins or someone like that to build up their obviously very shaky confidence. As for those who condone or even like the over-the-top celebrations, perhaps you should seek some help of your own.

[Mimicoboy]

I agree this business of high fiving at the benches is ridiculous. But you must remember in a game of this magnitude these kids are pumped like crazy. And when Hayes skated by our bench with the ear gesture in the first period well I knew something was going to happen. Many might recall when the London Knights last won the Memorial Cup and went on that massive winning streak. My newphew played on that team and he related a story to me after the season in regards to this topic. It was just before the play-offs I believe,and the Knights had a visit from former Knight Brendon Shanahan (another Mimicoboy)he told the team that after scoring a goal to head straight to center ice and line up ready to go. No high five at the bench. His theory was that by heading right to center ice after the goal you were sending the other team the message that "we're not done yet so let's drop the puck and get at er". they went through the entire Memorial Cup doing this and no one noticed other than those who knew about the talk he had with the players. To me that is the way to do it. It is far more itimidating to the other team when they look around and you are lined up and ready to pounce on them again. I'm surprised no NHL coach has thought of it.

[mark]

I don't believe that official rules are the answer to all problems (real or perceived). Outlaw bench celebrations? No, that would be almost as stupid and unenforceable. But, keep players away from the oppositions bench when they celebrate...? yes! Common sense that, unfortunately, is lacking in some IIHF officials. These young men (both Can and US) did some stupid things that their coaches I'm sure discuss with them. Let's hope the IIHF learned a lesson too.

[John]

Disagree. They should move the benches to opposite sides of the ice to prevent these sorts of issues - not discourage team celebrations. Those are refreshing instead of the ridiculous individual celebrations seen in other sports.