Ice hockey would have to border on one of the craziest games ever invented. Now some Americans might think the same about Aussie Rules or Rugby but take something that is already difficult (standing and moving on ice), throw in a puck, big sticks and it's surely a recipe for carnage. Nikki was kind enough to take us to our first ever ice hockey game to watch the Washington Capitals play some team I can't remember (I think it was a team from Florida).
Alex Ovechkin would be the star player for the Capitals and even for us, who knows nothing about the game, it's easy to see that he is head and shoulders above the other players on the team. He is like Wally Lewis or Ian Thorpe, just one notch better than those around him.
The game is fast paced and from the moment the puck is in play they are continuously moving. It's the closest thing we've found here to Australian football (Aussie Rules or Rugby) in terms of speed and movement. They only stop for a penalty and then it's straight back into it. The coaches are continually making substitutions to ensure everyone is fresh.
The hits are equally as big as football and other contact sports. I'm sure the object of the game is to put your opposition into the wall as hard as you can before he does the same to you.
The sticks and pucks are just as dangerous. How those players have any teeth left is a mystery. In one game this season one of the players was ejected from the game and suspended for a season or two for hitting another player with his stick.
All that said they can certainly move around the ice with ease. Forwards, backwards, changing direction or doing all three at the same time, they make it look very easy and effortless. All of that while trying to control the puck passed the opposition as they try to slam you into the ice or the wall.
If you get the chance to see a game we can definitely recommend it. It is action packed, fast paced and entertaining. Unfortunately the Capitals lost in a penalty shoot out the game we saw but we enjoyed the event.
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