The Great Game Called Hockey It is 3-3 going into overtime, it is the Chicago Blackhawks versus the Philadelphia Flyers vying for the most coveted trophy in sports- the Stanley Cup Trophy. The Blackhawks have a 3-2 series lead. If they win this game, they win the trophy. It is “do or die” for the Flyers, force a game seven or go home. Then it happens, a few minutes into overtime, Patrick Kane, a young superstar on the Blackhawks skates down the rink, takes a shot, and he scores! Just like that, the game is over. The Blackhawks win the Stanley Cup! … The Blackhawks win the Stanley Cup! I, together with millions of other fans watching this nationally televised game, witnessed this great phenomenon live. Now you might wonder why millions of other fans and I tuned in to see the game. The answer is because millions of fans and I love and appreciate the game of hockey. In my opinion, it truly is the most exciting game both to play and to watch. While playing hockey and watching hockey are obviously two very different activities, they have at least one thing in common; they are both very fun. Let us take a closer look at each activity individually and see why so many others and I enjoy it so much.
I sincerely enjoy the thrill that I receive while playing hockey. I am not alone about this feeling. If you were to ask someone that plays hockey, as to why they play, one reason he or she will almost definitely tell you is something along the lines of that, “they love the thrill that the game has to it”. Now obviously, when I say the word “thrill”, it is not the same type of thrill that one might receive through skydiving, or the likes. Rather, the thrill that comes from playing hockey is of a less risky breed. I love playing sports in general. So maybe it is easier for me to come across as someone that loves hockey. So let me set it straight, the argument that I am presenting is not for someone that does not care about sports, and or who is not an athlete. Rather, this argument is intended to perhaps enlighten someone that loves sports (but not hockey), as to why they might want to consider using their physical talents towards the game of hockey, and to why they might want to consider watching hockey. Being that I love sports in general, and that I am a natural athlete, I enjoy playing all of the four major sports (basketball, baseball, football, and hockey). I have played all four sports many times throughout my life, but when I started following hockey (at about 15 years of age), my preferences in the sports that I like to play, changed drastically. I went from loving to play all four sports pretty much equally, to hockey first, and the other three all at a distant second. This all came about through starting to watch hockey, and realizing how amazing and fun the game looked. From there I started to play hockey in my backyard. I practiced it for a long time. The rest is history, I became very good at it, I love to play it anytime that I have the opportunity.
I really cannot stress enough how fun hockey really is in comparison to the other major sports. When I make a slick pass, or school a defenseman on a great play, I feel an unreal thrill; that is the reason I love to play hockey more than the other three major sports. It is not that hitting a homerun, or making a nice play in the field, are not a good feeling, they just do not compare. The same can be said in basketball and football, a nice play feels great, but it simply does not compare to the likes of hockey. In regards to my love for watching the game of hockey, it too is for good reason. Obviously when watching hockey, there is no thrill involved. Rather I love to watch hockey, because it’s the most action packed sport. It is full of enthusiasm; hard hitting, fighting, skating at fast speeds, dazzling moves, and the likes. While basketball might have certain comparable entertaining aspects such as running up and down the court, and dazzling moves, it lacks the hard hitting and fighting, the sheer enthusiasm which hockey possesses.
Others might argue that football is comparable to hockey in its level of enthusiasm, and that it too has a fast pace as well as hard hitting, and great plays. While the football argument is definitely a more compelling one, I feel it still falls short to hockey by a relatively considerable margin. Yes, football does have hard hitting, great plays, and a fast pace to it. However, football lacks the fighting aspect, the constant fast pace that hockey has, as well as the constant hitting that hockey possesses.
For baseball, I do not even see a potential winning argument. Yes, the home runs, as well as the fantastic plays are great to see. However, they are few and far in between. The general pace to the game of baseball is just slow and boring. Do not get me wrong, I enjoy watching all four major sports. I am just explaining why my love for watching hockey over the other sports, is just that much greater.
In conclusion, in my opinion there is no sport comparable to that of hockey, both to play and to watch. While many do not enjoy playing or watching hockey, this may very well be attributed to a lack of understanding about the game. Many watch a game of hockey and get lost as to what is going on, and where the puck is. Hence, they give up on watching hockey. As for playing, hockey is the most skilled sport, and takes more practice to get better at than the other three major sports. Hence, people give up on practicing hockey. To all of this I say, give yourself a legitimate chance, because if you do, more times than not, there will be no going back; you will be stuck on the great game called hockey!