Thinking about becoming a hockey fan...

[TheBigEDawg]

I've watched a grand total of about 30 minutes of hockey in my 60+ years (not including 1980). Can someone enlighten me on the rules? How is it they can bash each other to a pulp while the refs stand around and watch, but if they
go past a blue line, they are kicked out of the game?

 

[Ranchdawg]

Just think soccer on ice and you are ready to watch! We lived near Greensboro, NC for two years and went to hockey games there and had a blast. We went to a couple of the college games in Tupelo too (MSU Vs Ole Miss). The college games were like watching high school.

 

[horshack.sixpack]

Is that better than basketball on grass?

 

[doglegs]

I've watched a grand total of about 30 minutes of hockey in my 60+ years (not including 1980). Can someone enlighten me on the rules? How is it they can bash each other to a pulp while the refs stand around and watch, but if they
go past a blue line, they are kicked out of the game?

You won't be disappointed! Especially playoff hockey. It gets intense.

It's like the scoring skill of soccer, the pace of basketball, and the hitting of football all done on ice skates with dudes who play through every injury, no matter how serious.

Not sure what you mean by a guy getting thrown out for crossing a blue line, though. They do have offsides (player crosses the blue line before the puck) but that just leads to a faceoff. And you get a penalty for fighting, though they let you duke it out first (less often in the playoffs, but still happens).

The weirdest rule to understand is icing. That's the puck crossing two red lines (center line and goal line) without being touched by a teammate before the other team gets it. Forces you to control the puck up and down the ice rather than just watching people chase the thing back and forth all night.

The rest of it you would pick up as you watched.

 

[Msubulldogfan1]

I’ll be on my new adventure as a fan rooting for the Seattle Kraken. I can’t wait.

 

[LTblows]

The Kraken awaits! C'mon board the bandwagon.

 

[L4Dawg]

I've watched a grand total of about 30 minutes of hockey in my 60+ years (not including 1980). Can someone enlighten me on the rules? How is it they can bash each other to a pulp while the refs stand around and watch, but if they
go past a blue line, they are kicked out of the game?

Once this COVID stuff settles down go to a game. If you are close enough go to to Nashville. Preds games are an event. Get a hotel room downtown or in the Gulch and have fun!

 

[GloryDawg]

30 years ago you could slam dance in bars and no one would say anything. You could basically knock the hell out of any one and nothing would happen to you. I didn't do it because I wasn't out there to dance. If you know what I mean.

 

[RocketDawg]

We used to go to UAH hockey all the time and it was a lot of fun to watch. I never really knew the rules though - seems like they'd call penalties at random times, which I suppose must have been off-sides. The game moves so fast it's hard to keep up with.

 

[Dawg1976]

Better than soccer. More fights.

 

[Dawgpile]

When you figured out the "interference" rule, then you'll know you're a fully vested hockey fan.

Watch enough and you'll catch on quickly...It's a great game.

 

[rockydawg1013]

It is my opinion that hockey, especially at the professional level, is the best sports product out there today.

It’s fast. There are no prima donna’s. No flopping...just seems like a humble hardworking sport.

 

[PineGroveBully]

Is that better than basketball on grass?

If you don’t like dunking

 

[SirBarksalot]

Great game, as someone said...not many sports get any better than playoff hockey..game 7’s..you can feel the tension through the TV.

We used to have a blast going to Jackson Bandit games. Shame that didn’t last. Good affordable fun.
But the difference between that level of minor league hockey and NHL is complete night and day in skill level.

16 years or so ago, I actually went to NHL opening night at (new) Maple Leaf Gardens to see Toronto vs Montreal..that was cool. (They don’t like each other)
And don’t even think about getting up to go get a beer when the puck is in play..they won’t let you. I liked that.

 

[PineGroveBully]

I’ve never watched a lot of hockey but several years ago when USA faced Canada in the finals I believe in Vancouver I watched a good bit. I also watched a little Blues hockey last year, I don’t have the time or energy to start following another sport but I can definitely see the appeal. Kinda like Australian rugby.

 

[MedDawg]

Live hockey is better than TV hockey...

I've watched a grand total of about 30 minutes of hockey in my 60+ years (not including 1980). Can someone enlighten me on the rules? How is it they can bash each other to a pulp while the refs stand around and watch, but if they
go past a blue line, they are kicked out of the game?

You can see the flow of the game much better live. TV hockey focuses too much on the puck. Even minor league hockey is fun to watch.

I think fighting is more rare now. I know there's a LOT less fighting than when I first started watching hockey in the 70s. Teams had goons on the roster who couldn't do much with the puck but were brutal fighters. Watch the movie "Slap Shot".

 

[mcdawg22]

I can’t wait to be a Krakhead!

 

[EngDawg]

https://youtu.be/nv2FUnHceqU

 

[FISHDAWG]

understanding the basic rules makes it better for the fan / observer .... to truly see if you like it you need to see a game in person. The cameras follow the puck but there is a lot of action taking place on the ice outside of the camera view .... they let them fight (usually - but I have seen some stopped early) until they leave their feet so the refs won't get hit themselves ... pretty good sports action and easy to become a fan but it's a FAR better experience there at the rink in person