Random observations about hockey

[iceholes19 0]

Some generalizations I've acquired that seem to hold true more often than not:

1. As a spectator, I keep an eye out for the players at the beginning of the game especially during the National Anthem

who have fidgety feet (constantly moving their feet back and forth on the ice); they tend to be the best skaters, hardest

workers. I know I should be focused on the Stars and Stripes, but hey, I'm a former Marine, so I get a pass, right?

On a somewhat related note, I think that non-American players in the NHL must get sick of listening to The Star Spangled

Banner 82 times a year not including pre and post season.

2. The guys at pick-up/drop-in who have the best gear tend to not be the best players. Conversely, the guy with the old

gear usually rips.

That's all I've got. I know that those of you with more experience playing and working in this game must have some good ones.

[dsjunior1388 81]

2. The guys at pick-up/drop-in who have the best gear tend to not be the best players. Conversely, the guy with the old

gear usually rips.

While I am a great example of having great gear and no skills, I see quite a few guys with a lot of skill who are very aware of their gear, and some who are definitely gear whores, sticks and gloves in particular.

[SidCaeser 0]

1. As a spectator, I keep an eye out for the players at the beginning of the game especially during the National Anthem

who have fidgety feet (constantly moving their feet back and forth on the ice); they tend to be the best skaters, hardest

workers.

I noticed this at my first NHL game I went to in 1999. It was a Winds v. Canucks game, and the five guys on the ice for the Wings (Shanahan & Yzerman are the only two I remember) feet did not stop moving. Since then, I always watch the feet during the national anthem. The last game I went to was a 9-1 pouncing, Wings v Blue Jackets. Four of the five Jackets were almost standing still. I know this isn't scientific, but it is an interesting observation.

[retroXvertigo 4]

The best guy on my team and the highest scorer in out league had holes worn through both gloves and a quarter sized hole in the toe of his stick. :lol:

[SolarWind 23]

2. The guys at pick-up/drop-in who have the best gear tend to not be the best players. Conversely, the guy with the old

gear usually rips.

this definitely apply to older folks that played for centuries & are certainly good players :)

but younger crowd is quite gear aware with best players almost always sporting latest top of the line sticks, and also often skates/gloves

arguably these are the only pieces of equipment (the order varies per player BTW - for some it's skates, for some it's stick. gloves are definitely last of the 3) that actually might make a difference in one's game.

[rangers1234 0]

this definitely apply to older folks that played for centuries & are certainly good players :)

but younger crowd is quite gear aware with best players almost always sporting latest top of the line sticks, and also often skates/gloves

arguably these are the only pieces of equipment (the order varies per player BTW - for some it's skates, for some it's stick. gloves are definitely last of the 3) that actually might make a difference in one's game.

I have found gloves makes a big difference. I kept searching for the stick with the best puck feel and then got a pair of Eagle PPFi's. Now I can realy feel the puck. (Skates, Gloves, Stick).

[Rogueldr 0]

One thing I noticed after watching alot of NHL hockey is that alot of players nowadays pull their jersey sleeves up to like mid-way up the elbow/forearm pad. Ovi is the worst offender and being a Ranger fan I noticed Gaborik doing it too. Now I notice more and more.

[iceholes19 0]

I've always used the velcro strap on my elbows to hold up the sleeves of my jersey to keep the sleeve from

hanging down into my gloves.

[RadioGaGa 162]

1. As a spectator, I keep an eye out for the players at the beginning of the game especially during the National Anthem

who have fidgety feet (constantly moving their feet back and forth on the ice); they tend to be the best skaters, hardest

workers. I know I should be focused on the Stars and Stripes, but hey, I'm a former Marine, so I get a pass, right?

I went to a World Baseball Classic (or whatever they called it) game...a few years back...Canada v. Italy (I think). You could tell which Canadian ball players had hockey backgrounds...the ones who swayed all through the anthem *L*

[Brian Harte 1]

One thing I noticed after watching alot of NHL hockey is that alot of players nowadays pull their jersey sleeves up to like mid-way up the elbow/forearm pad. Ovi is the worst offender and being a Ranger fan I noticed Gaborik doing it too. Now I notice more and more.

That's how I've done it for... a long time. It just bugs me to have my jersey hangin' around my wrist and glove.

[Neo5370 132]

Regarding gear and skill;

I noticed when I was a kid there was a lot less emphasis on gear because of the lack of product choice (compared to today).

I feel like only two kinds of people had top end gear, the people who had the money and the people who had it because they were elite players (needed the gear).

Back, then it was much more common to see a great player using whatever he could get/care to spend on.

Nowadays, EVERYBODY and their mother has top end sticks/skates regardless of skill. With so many choices, and the marketing of image hockey has turned into a fashion show.

Thus, I agree. When you see someone w/ beat gear and skills, they're usually older.

P.S. Hockey was much more popular in the 1990's, so more people wanted to play including the less privelaged. I had friends that played with 5030's until they were barely recognizable but where GREAT players. There I was w/ my easton ultralite and 752 Tacks, complete w/ stone hands and lead feet :)

Now, hockey is small agian and only carries an interest in the middle to upper-middleclasse and up.

[fawn111 0]

Haha... I have CCM hand me down pants.... actually bought them used, like pretty much most of my other stufff.... They are old, but I still suck.

[iceholes19 0]

Another one:

Why do all Pittsburgh pro teams share the same color scheme? Kind of lame in my book. I can't think of

another city that does this. To me it's like parents who name all of their kids with the same sounding first

letter (e.g. Kaleb, Casey, Kelsey).

[littlehockeymatt 0]

ALOT more players, even in the pro leagus tape there stick over the toe, ive done this for 3years

[Rogueldr 0]

Another one:

Why do all Pittsburgh pro teams share the same color scheme? Kind of lame in my book. I can't think of

another city that does this. To me it's like parents who name all of their kids with the same sounding first

letter (e.g. Kaleb, Casey, Kelsey).

Really? I actually think it's pretty cool that all the pro teams in Pittsburg share the same colors. Not that I like any of those teams but I think that it gives the city more of an identity. Something like that could never happen in a bigger city like New York or LA with all the teams that are in the same sport.

[The Mafia Line 0]

It's because of the city flag. Notice the blue checkers, which were the pens and pirates old colors as well as pitt university. Eventually they all changed to the black and gold

[dsjunior1388 81]

One thing I noticed after watching alot of NHL hockey is that alot of players nowadays pull their jersey sleeves up to like mid-way up the elbow/forearm pad. Ovi is the worst offender and being a Ranger fan I noticed Gaborik doing it too. Now I notice more and more.

I used to hate that, looked so stupid, mostly because of Bertuzzi. Then I started seing guys like Hossa, Kovalchuk and others with the long Jofa or RBK elbow pads, thought it looked really cool, and now I do it with my Jofa's, and I realize it prevents the jersey bunching or pulling around the elbow pad.

[jmiami 4]

To the OP: First of all, thank you for your service to our country as a United States Marine. It is greatly appreciated!

Regarding cities whose sports teams share colors, NY actually halfway does that. The Mets, Islanders, Knicks all share orange and blue. I don't know about the blue, but I was told that the orange goes back to New York's Dutch lineage. Orange is the official color of Holland, as in Prince William of Orange.

Giants and Rangers share red white and blue. Coincidence? I have no idea.

The Yankees are the Yankees, who's gonna tell 'em anything.

The big mystery is how the Jets ended up with green and white.

[jeffw 1]

I've always used the velcro strap on my elbows to hold up the sleeves of my jersey to keep the sleeve from

hanging down into my gloves.

I have long arms so I'm usually pretty stoked to get a jersey with sleeves long enough to reach my wrists. :lol:

Right, back on topic.

[xrickyb86x 1]

LA with all the teams that are in the same sport.

Lakers/Kings then Raiders/Kings

[TBLfan 25]

I used to hate that, looked so stupid, mostly because of Bertuzzi. Then I started seing guys like Hossa, Kovalchuk and others with the long Jofa or RBK elbow pads, thought it looked really cool, and now I do it with my Jofa's, and I realize it prevents the jersey bunching or pulling around the elbow pad.

That's exactly why I do it, keeps the jersey from bunching. Also the airflow into the glove cuff feels much better than a jersey rustling against your wrist, in my opinion.

[Chadd 916]

Another one:

Why do all Pittsburgh pro teams share the same color scheme? Kind of lame in my book. I can't think of

another city that does this. To me it's like parents who name all of their kids with the same sounding first

letter (e.g. Kaleb, Casey, Kelsey).

The Penguins did it to try and latch on to the Steeler bandwagon in the 70's when they were a dominant force in the NFL. They were desperate for fans and wanted to associate themselves with a winning franchise.

[Scoobersti 0]

I kind of like how Pittsburgh has same colors for all of their pro teams.

To me Seattle has not the same but, similar colors for their teams now, not same but similar. Mariners has navy, teal and silver. Seahawks and Sounders has navy, blue, green and white. Of course if Sonics were still here I couldn't say that (I don't really follow basketball, but I kind of wish they were still here since my wife likes basketball).

I'm not sure if this is true or not but, regarding the orange and blue of the Mets, I read somewhere that they have orange and blue because they wanted to use colors of the departed NY Giants (the baseball team) and the Brooklyn Dodgers, so they took the orange from the Giants and the blue from the Dodgers.

Edit: I'm not saying that Holland thing about the NY team colors is not true, just thought I'd mention what I heard about reason for the NY Mets colors.

[The Mafia Line 0]

I'm not sure if this is true or not but, regarding the orange and blue of the Mets, I read somewhere that they have orange and blue because they wanted to use colors of the departed NY Giants (the baseball team) and the Brooklyn Dodgers, so they took the orange from the Giants and the blue from the Dodgers.

Edit: I'm not saying that Holland thing about the NY team colors is not true, just thought I'd mention what I heard about reason for the NY Mets colors.

The mets thing is true. Blue from the Dodgers, orange from the Giants...as well as their hat logo.

I'm not sure if it has anything to do with it, but the NY state flag is Blue, white and orange, so that could be the reason.

[adam14 182]

Good players stick to what they know. I noticed this this past season playing junior hockey. The best player on my team used one stick. Easton se16 100 flex, Iginla curve. it broke he bought another one. he didnt change his pattern/flex/stick once all season, and he led our team in goals.

You can sort of see it in the NHL, guys wearing S9's, or Kariya using sticks that are older than me.