Quack: falling in love with hockey

By Emerald Gao
Written on May 29, 2007

Hockey. Jesus, this is a beautiful sport.

1) I've underestimated the tactics of this game for many, many years, but thank god I have many, many more years to correct that. I can't differentiate between scoring lines, checking lines still make me think of Citibank, and the concept and execution of shifts/shift changes remain somewhat elusive, but I'm learning as fast as I can.

2) I hate SoCal. I hate Disney even more. So who would've thought that I don't hate the Mighty Ducks franchise at all? In fact, I find it incredibly amusing (and maybe even a bit endearing) that Disney manufactured and created their own hockey team based off a trilogy of children's movies starring Emilio Estevez and Joshua Jackson. I don't know enough about the league to gauge whether or not they've managed to shake off the hokey franchise tag at all (losing the "Mighty" prefix after the sale probably helped at least a little?), but for a new viewer, I'm sold. Hey, I dare anyone to ignore the fabulous irony of the Disney-inspired Ducks making two Stanley Cup finals.

3) It helps to focus on a player, to figure out what he does for the team that makes him essential or even just enjoyable to watch. For Liverpool there was Michael Owen. For the Bears there was Robbie Gould. (I'm crediting Ginobili for my initial interest in the Spurs, although clearly Tim Duncan is the sugar daddy of the team. Also, the Spurs are a side note because I'm not really a basketball fan.) For the Ducks I think I have Chris Pronger to thank. Of course, my instinct is to love defensemen wholly and unconditionally, but I literally cannot take my eyes off him when he's on the ice. I love the way he skates, the way he lines up the puck for a preposterous long-range shot that won't even reach the second defender, the way he checks opposing players on the open ice, and even his wild, furious side. I'll figure out more to say about him later, but yeah, he got me real good.

4) Finally, a game in which men can be men and beat the crap out of each other while wearing ice skates. Okay, seriously, I know the game has its internal problems (just like every other professional sport, believe me), and apparently I've missed out on the glory days of hockey fighting, but the fact that it's played at high speeds on ice adds an element of danger that is extremely thrilling. Plus, I'll take my aggro piles after every goaltender stop over useless technical fouls or roughing the passer calls or unnoticed dives. Anyday.

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