Comments on: What’s the Difference Between Olympic and NHL Hockey?

By: Sherry

Sherry — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 00:23:47 +0000

Your friend is correct, there are 4 skaters and the goalie. You can pull the goalie, but you probably wouldn’t want to. The exception to this is in the Stanley Cup playoffs, where the teams are full strength.
It looked a little strange, didn’t it? I think it completely changes how the teams play. It becomes a little slower, more risky. Personally, I’m not sure why they made this rule. Maybe overtime was just going too long and they wanted to avoid too many shootouts.

By: alec

alec — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 22:44:02 +0000

A friend tells me that in overtime (like yesterday) the teams play 4 on 4, plus goalie, instead of 5 on 5.

Who’s right (we have a lunch riding on this!)

By: Sherry

Sherry — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 13:56:05 +0000

Thanks for a player’s opinion, Crazycanuk! It’s always good to hear from the readers. Anyone else?

By: crazycanuck

crazycanuck — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 21:03:30 +0000

I believe the Canadian or North American game of hockey, played on smaller rinks than European rinks, is a much superior game. Suggesting that a bigger ice-surface requires more “skill” and “finesse” like suggesting that it take more “skill” and “finesse” for Canadian football leagers than NFLers. The Canadian football field is considerably wider and a heck of a lot longer than the NFL field.

Playing on a smaller ice surface actually requires lightning quick reflexes and much better stick handling and manuevering ability to avoid being checked by opposing players. There is more use of “banks” off the boards, the power play is faster and closer to the goalie.

I’m a rather elderly Canadian who has actually played on both ice surfaces and can tell you, the Canadian sized rink provides for a superior game.